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Capture the Moment by Suzanne Woods Fisher Review and Giveaway

May 22, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Capture the Moment

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release date: May 6, 2025

Kate Cunningham is facing the opportunity of a lifetime. As a zoo photographer, she’s spent years photographing animals in carefully controlled environments, but now National Geographic has dangled an irresistible prize: If Kate can snag a unique photo of a legendary bear in Grand Teton National Park, they just might publish it. It’s the kind of challenge Kate has been waiting for, and she’s eager to prove herself in the wild.

With more enthusiasm than experience, Kate soon realizes that capturing an image of this bear isn’t as simple as she hoped. Fortunately, she crosses paths with Grant Cooper, a seasonal park ranger who knows the terrain–and the bears–better than anyone. His tracking skills could be exactly what Kate needs to succeed, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes. But they’re not the only ones with an interest in the park’s most famous bear. And his motives are far from innocent.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a Christy finalist, a Carol and Selah winner, a two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, and Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of more than forty books. Her genres include contemporary and historical romances, Amish romance, and women’s fiction. She and her husband live in a small town in California. Most friends act a little nervous around Suzanne because they usually wind up in one of her novels. She has four grown children and enough grandchildren to keep her young.

More from Suzanne

A Spark that Lit a Story

By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Capture the Moment (Revell—May 6, 2025)

Inspiration can strike in the most unexpected places—like a gift shop in Grand Teton National Park. While browsing, I struck up a conversation with a college student who had never set foot outside Alabama until her mom dropped her off for a summer job in the park. One minute, she was home in the Deep South; the next, she was surrounded by towering peaks and moose crossings. Talk about a culture shock.

That conversation lit a spark that eventually became my National Parks Summers series. I couldn’t stop thinking about the fascinating mix of people who work seasonally in national parks. You’ve got fresh-faced college kids on their first big adventure, retirees finally living their bucket-list dreams, and everyone in between. These parks aren’t just natural wonders—they’re crossroads for people from all walks of life, all chasing something unique.

In Capture the Moment, I wanted to explore what happens when people and landscapes collide. Kate Cunningham, a determined zoo photographer, swaps enclosures for the wilds of Grand Teton, chasing an elusive bear and her own sense of purpose. Along the way, Kate meets Grant Cooper, a rugged park ranger with a knack for tracking and a talent for keeping her on her toes.

National parks are more than just beautiful backdrops—they’re places where people find themselves, lose themselves, and sometimes stumble into something extraordinary.

Maybe even love.

My Impressions

“399…Queen of the Tetons…”

“‘A living, breathing legend.’ ‘Exactly. She’s a symbol of the wild, a reminder that even in the heart of nature, there are stories, personalities, and connections waiting to be discovered.’”

And…we’re off on a journey to visit some of our nation’s great national parks with Suzanne Woods Fisher, told in her gentle, heart-warming style. First stop in this new series, National Parks Summers, is Grand Tetons National Park, in Capture the Moment.

If you are a fan of nature, underdogs, Suzanne Woods Fisher, plot twists, and gentle reminders to listen to the still, small voice of God, this is a must-read.

I adored the novice photographer, Kate, who thought she would get the original photo that no one else had. What a shock she gets when she arrives at the best viewing spots for the old grizzly, 399, only to discover a great crowd of disdainful professional photographers ahead of her. Fortunately, Kate is willing to learn from her mistakes and not wallow in her failures. ( And being a city-slicker, there are plenty!) “She reminded herself that mistakes were a natural part of the learning process. “Each one has a lesson to teach,” she said to herself.” Another verse that helps her when she is amazed at her own obtuseness( and don’t most of us have blinders on in some area of life?) is “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Do you not perceive it?” What I love about this moment is that Woods points out this is a verse God brings to Kate’s mind because she had hidden it in her heart long ago. Do we have verses like that? Second, are we, as we age, still working on memorizing, so God can bring those verses to mind?

Woods populates her novel with so many other wonderful characters! Of course, everyone will love Coop! How can you not! Handsome, knowledgeable, expert on bears, and compassionate. He champions Kate, the underdog, plus he understands and mentors the impossibly belligerent Frankie. This is no small feat, because it is obvious he would rather not have this sidekick 24-7! And, he is unafraid to tell the truth as it is… to those that need to hear it… which his acting director, Sally, tries to silence.

Sally. She is acting director of the park, and a piece of work! I was surprised to find that I didn’t like her any more after a night of “sleeping on it” than I did when I finished the story.

And Tim and his granddaughter, Maisie! To meet Tim is to love him, unless you are Frankie. Such a wise, thoughtful, man rooted in faith. His granddaughter, Maisie, who frequently gets dumped on him? She’s 13, loquacious, loud, and goes non-stop 24-7. Everyone seems to have a love-avoid her relationship with her. Maisie wants so hard to be accepted, loved, and seen as special. Pops finally tells her on one occasion when she takes imitation overboard, “a tulip doesn’t struggle to be different from a rose.”

Bonus note: With a great detailed map of the park at the beginning and a list of the most important characters also at the beginning, I felt well-armed to tackle the book.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I bought my own pb copy for my keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“she realized that seeing things differently was a gift, not a burden.”

“But holding on to anger isn’t doing you any favors.”…“It’s like a poison.”…“Forgiveness is the antidote.”

“what you’re looking for can’t be found within. Only outside ourselves. Only in God.”

“…he didn’t have to hang on to that hurt anymore.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! National parks story told in Fisher’s heart-warming, feels-like-a-hug-style, complete with a grizzly, romance, humor, faith, and a bit of mystery.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 22

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 22

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 22

By the Book, May 23

Carla’s Book Crush, May 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 24

Devoted To Hope, May 24

Book Looks by Lisa, May 25

Texas Book-aholic, May 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 26

lakesidelivingsite, May 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 27

The Avid Reader, May 28

Blossoms and Blessings, May 28

Southern Gal Loves to Read, May 28

Stories By Gina, May 29 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 29

Blogging With Carol, May 30

For Him and My Family, May 30

Cover Lover Book Review, May 31

Karen Baney Reviews, May 31

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 1

Holly’s Book Corner, June 1

Jeanette’s Thoughts, June 2

Books Less Travelled, June 2

She Lives To Read, June 3

Pause for Tales, June 3

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 3

Lily’s Corner, June 4

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, June 4

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and an eBook copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54226

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, NetGalley, Purchase, Revell

A Year of Flowers by Suzanne Woods Fisher Review and Giveaway

January 13, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: A Year of Flowers

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release date: November 18, 2024

In this collection of four heartfelt novellas, three former friends have found success in the floral industry, but happiness–and love–remain elusive.

In An Apology in Bloom, wedding florist Jaime Harper is on a meteoric rise, working for an event company led by a successful and way-too-handsome boss. When a letter arrives from her past mentor with an offer too good to pass up, will she stay or head back to her hometown?

In A Bouquet of Dreams, Claire Murphy has always dreamed of owning a flower shop, and when her employers hint at retirement, she believes her moment has arrived. But first she must confront her past–and the man who caused her to flee her hometown years ago.

In A Field of Beauty, Tessa Anderson has found an acre of farmland to start her flower farm and forget the past. She’s grateful for the help of two men–her boyfriend, Tyler, and a quiet soil specialist named Dawson. But as the farm finally starts to bloom, Tessa will discover something that challenges everything she’s built.

In A Future in Blossom, Jaime, Claire, and Tessa return to their hometown, finally ready to face each other and their beloved mentor, flower shop owner Rose Reid. As they unite to pull off an extraordinary wedding, amid the flurry of preparations they just may find their way to forgiveness.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a Christy finalist, a Carol and Selah winner, a two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, and the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of more than forty books. Her genres include contemporary and historical romances, Amish romance, and women’s fiction. She and her husband live in a small town in California, where everyone knows everyone else, knows what they are doing and why. Most friends act a little nervous around Suzanne because they usually wind up in one of her novels. She has four grown children and enough grandchildren to keep her young.

More from Suzanne

A Year of Flowers: Friendships in Full Bloom

If you’ve ever tended to a garden, you know that flowers and friendships have a lot in common—they both need a bit of love, attention, and sometimes, a good pruning. That’s the heart of my novella collection called A Year of Flowers, stories of three teenage girls who bonded over bouquets and blossomed into best friends under the guidance of Rose, the wise and wonderful flower shop owner.

But life, much like a garden, doesn’t always go according to plan. On one sweltering August day, something dreadful happens in the flower shop, and the girls, who once shared everything, suddenly vanish from each other’s lives.

Seven years later, we find out where each girl, now a young woman, has gone. Their love for flowers is still in full bloom. Jaime’s taken her talent to the big city, working as a floral artist for a high-end event agency in NYC. She’s turning heads with her extravagant designs, but something’s missing—maybe it’s the simple joy she once found in that small-town flower shop.

Claire has run off to Savannah, Georgia, where she’s knee-deep in blooms, working in a flower shop with dreams of running the place one day. She’s got her eye on the prize, but she’s also discovering that you can’t outrun the past, no matter how far you go.

Then there’s Tessa, who’s found solace in the soil of Asheville, NC, where she’s started a flower farm. It’s a peaceful life, but even in the quiet of the mountains, memories of that summer day haunt her like the mist that rolls over the hills.

As each story unfolds, we see that, like flowers, friendships need TLC. They can wilt easily without care and attention. And sometimes, a good pruning is necessary, to help it grow stronger.

In the final novella, the three young women are drawn back to where it all began—the flower shop, and to Rose. It’s time to dig up the past, clear out the weeds, and see if their friendship can bloom again. After all, just because a garden has been neglected doesn’t mean it can’t be revived with a little care and attention.

So, if you’re a fan of flowers, friendships, or happy endings, get a copy of A Year of Flowers. It’s a reminder that with the right care, both flowers and friendships can flourish, no matter how long they’ve been left untended.

My Impressions

“Soil is never beyond repair. That’s the great mystery of it. Nature is constantly at work to heal the mess humans make of this earth.”

I always want to cheer when a new Suzanne Woods Fisher novel comes out.

A Year of Flowers by Fisher is a veritable visual treat of the imagination. With the many varieties of flowers mentioned, the detail given to arrangement description, and the flower knowledge shared, it was clear that Fisher did her homework well. I could easily see the gorgeous bouquets, watch the flower groupings take form, and see the small town vs big city settings. And the characters quickly won me over. Plus, the I appreciated the cast of characters list as well as glossary at the front of each book.

Three girls, Jaime, Claire, and Tessa, had once been best friends in high school. All worked for Rose in a small flower shop in Sunrise, North Carolina. Learning different aspects of the flower business from Rose, the girls think life will go on like this forever, until one night changes everything.

We meet Jaime in the first novella, An Apology in Bloom. Jaime left that awful night and followed her dreams to New York, where her skill and a favor for a neighbor landed her the job of her dreams. Unfortunately, like many people, Jaime has great insecurities and maybe even some imposter syndrome going on. These tendencies often will implode on themselves, and they certainly do in Jaime’s case. But then she receives a letter from Rose, offering forgiveness, a return, and a chance to run the flower shop. Will she face a difficult present or an even more difficult past? What will happen of her fledgling relationship with her uber-successful boss?

Claire makes me laugh with her need to belong, her slightly arrogant opinion of herself, and her inability to see her own faults. She was hard for me to like for quite a while. But the customers at the Savannah flower shop where she now works also find her hard to deal with, and she gets sent to customer service rehab! This scene is a hoot, even as I cringed reading about Claire’s insensitivity to others and the situation. I wanted to say, “Bless your heart,” as used as “Southern code for many things: You poor thing. You’re an idiot. Or What on God’s green earth made you think that was a good idea?” Will Claire survive this last attempt to salvage her present job, or will she consider returning to the past upon receipt of Rose’s forgiveness letter? She would have to face the man she left behind.

Tessa. Sigh. The girl every other girl loves to hate. Partly responsible for the breakup of the friendship of the three girls, now on her own, but still finding herself rescued by men. The one man who doesn’t notice her is the one she needs, Dawson, her previous sustainability prof. Somehow, she convinces him to be her farm manager for the little flower farm she wants to start outside of Asheville. Always the flower who attracts too many bees, Tessa’s beauty doesn’t always work in her favor. Then she gets the third identical letter from Rose…

The last novella, A Future in Blossom, ties all the stories together and brings answers to the many questions the girls’ lives have created. Like the first, there is a good twist in this novella. I really enjoyed this whole compilation. I encourage anyone who has lived through junior high school and bad teenage moments to read this!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought a copy of the book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“when you can’t talk about something, it doesn’t go away. It just gets stuffed down.”

“He had reminded her that believing in God was one thing. Trusting in him was where all the good stuff came in. That was where the peace lay.”

“Shame craved secrecy.”

“Feeling beautiful was better than looking beautiful.”

“Flowers had the ability to soften the hardest of hearts.”

“Surely you must have done something you regretted.” That silenced her. “Well, what matters is you clean things up. Right?”

“Unlike people, flowers did not disappoint.”

“Flowers were the business of happiness”-Rose Reid

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Flowers Speak!

Blog Stops

Vicky Sluiter, January 11

lakesidelivingsite, January 11

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 12

Book Looks by Lisa, January 12

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 13

Simple Harvest Reads, January 13 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

She Lives to Read, January 14

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 15

For Him and My Family, January 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 16

By the Book, January 17

Wishful Endings, January 17

Texas Book-aholic, January 18

Pause for Tales, January 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 19

Cover Lover Book Review, January 20

Lighthouse Academy, January 20

The Avid Reader, January 21

Stories By Gina, January 22 (Author Interview)

Jeanette’s Thoughts , January 23

Blossoms and Blessings, January 23

Batya’s Bits, January 24

Holly’s Book Corner, January 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54129

BLOG, Just Read Tours, New-to-Me Author, Purchase

A Small Town Fourth of July by Janice Carter Review

July 11, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: A Small Town Fourth of July

Series: Home to Maple Glen, Bk 1

Author: Janice Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming

Genre: Contemporary Clean Romance

Released: June 25, 2024

A Small Town Fourth of July by Janice Carter

His return sets off fireworks…

But will it blow up her dreams?

When Theo Danby returns to Maple Glen to sell his inherited land, Maura Stuart panics. Selling the land could endanger Maura’s beloved donkey therapy business…and expose her secrets. Her only hope is to rope Theo into helping with the Fourth of July festival and make Theo fall in love with their small town. But if she trusts him with the truth, will he stay…or will she lose everything?

From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.

Home to Maple Glen

Book 1: A Small Town Fourth of July
Book 2: Rescued at Christmas

About the Author

Janice Carter has been writing romance novels, in particular Harlequin romances, for a very long time. What began as a hobby when she was working full-time and helping to raise two daughters continues in retirement as a wonderfully satisfying hobby! When she isn’t writing, she is playing with her granddaughter, enjoying cottage life, traveling and always reading!

My Impressions

“One day at a time and no analyzing or predicting as we go along.” “I see you already know things about me,” she quipped. “Some things, but my goal is everything.”

A Small Town Fourth of July by Janice Carter has so much to recommend it. Grown-ups Maura, her twin, Maddie, and Theo have all individually moved back to the small town of their youth, at least temporarily. Plus more of the old gang seems to keep popping up. And there are some really interesting supporting characters like Walter. After all, Walter takes Luke under his wing and introduces the donkey farm to Roger and Shep. Priceless!

Therapy animals? Yes, please! And donkeys?! Double yes! Tweens and teens with an attitude who discover the value of hard work, neighbors, and animal love? Perfection.

Plus, we are fed bits of the Theo’s past and his relationship with Maddie and Maura until it all makes sense. And a bit of a mystery and a secret.

The one thing I didn’t care for, was the inclusion of a palm reader and tarot card reader. She presents what she does as perfectly innocent, and the characters never disagree. Most people won’t be bothered by this, but it goes against what I prefer to include in my reads. A clean read, but be aware if this is a trigger point for you.

A very feel-good story of former friends and neighbors coming together to re-commit to the town they once loved, then hated, and now are falling in love with again. Also includes a few romances.

I received a copy of this book from Just Read Tours. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Not much we can do about the past, but we don’t have to make the same mistakes again.”

“It didn’t seem fair that his return here should raise so many conflicting emotions, the strongest being a desire to stay.”

“I know what the word community means, but I don’t really know how it feels.”

“surely painful emotions were long gone…Was there an expiry date on a broken heart?”

BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, NetGalley, New-to-Me Author, Purchase, Revell

The Road Before Us by Janine Rosche Review

June 14, 2024June 14, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: The Road Before Us

Author: Janine Rosche

Publisher: Revell

Released: May 2024

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Romance

From the Back Cover

How far would you go to fix the mistakes you’ve made?
For Jade Jessup, the answer is 2,448 miles.

Once one of Chicago’s significant financial advisors, Jade lost her credibility when her fiancé (and coworker) stole millions of dollars from their clients in a Ponzi scheme. Now she’s agreed to help one of them–an aging 1960s Hollywood starlet named Berenice “Benny” Alderidge–seek financial restoration.

Jade sets off along Route 66 with Benny and her handsome adult foster son, Bridger, who is filming a documentary retracing the 1956 trip that started the love story between Benny and her recently deceased husband, Paul. Listening to Benny recount her story draws Jade into memories of her own darker association with Route 66, when she was kidnapped as a child by a man the media labeled a monster–but she remembers only as her dad.

Together, these three travelers will learn about family, forgiveness, and what it means to live free of the past. But not before Jade faces a second staggering betrayal that changes everything.

“This dual-time journey along the Mother Road is not to be missed.”–Amanda Cox, Christy Award-winning author

“An unforgettable ride.”–Christina Suzann Nelson, Christy Award-winning author

“Janine Rosche gets to the heart of family, friendship, and love.”–Toni Shiloh, Christy Award-winning author

About the Author

Prone to wander, Janine Rosche finds as much comfort on the open road as she does at home. This longing to chase adventure, behold splendor, and experience redemption is woven into each of her women’s fiction and romance novels including With Every Memory and the Madison River Romance series. When she isn’t writing or traveling, she teaches family life education courses to college students, takes too many pictures of her sleeping dogs, and embarrasses her four children and husband with boy band serenades.

My Impressions

“people travel Route 66 for all kinds of reasons, but it isn’t just travelers on that specific road who are running. In our own way, we’re all running from or running to something. The lucky ones get to do that with someone they love at their side.”

What a great summation of this book. Janine Rosche’s The Road Before Us is a mixture of women’s fiction and romance, but it is so much more, my mind is reeling. It is going to take me a long time to process it. Rosche deals (well) with so many topics: dementia, child kidnapping, parent-child (or lack thereof) relationships, adoption, betrayal, PTSD, racism, and the list goes on.

The book takes Jade, former financial advisor-turned-traveling companion to her former Hollywood starlet client, Benny Alderidge, on a trip down Route 66 in a 55 Chevy as they relive Benny’s romance with her husband over 70 years before. Accompanying them is Benny’s grown foster son, Bridger. Bridger is a happy-go-lucky videographer who is making a documentary about the trip.

I really loved the characters and their growth. So many characters exhibited growth in different relationships, it was a joy to see. Maybe I was relieved to see a few characters hang onto their anger and bitterness! Real life, without Jesus!

The dementia aspect caught me by surprise. Not that the character had it. But that her episodes were so severe when she would have them, yet she would be so very alert and totally cognizant other times. Having witnessed a parent descend into dementia, that has been a far cry from our experience. I know every experience is different, but I would expect severe episodes to have been preceded by more general, slow memory loss across the board. So I am still pondering how Benny can impart great, deep truths one minute, share memories on command, and (at first) only have the rare episode that is so severe it is a safety concern.

I love the fact that we readers get two romances for the price of one, insights into several parent-child relationships, and sibling relationships.

If you are a woman reading this book and not half in love with Bridger by the end, you may want to check in with the coroner’s office. Swoon, indeed!

The Road Before Us by Janine Rosche may be the heavy-hitter grand-slam of the year! Don’t get caught without having read this book!

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads via Netgalley. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“You know the best part about being my age? I can speak my mind and if people agree with me, they pat themselves on the back for being on the same side as wisdom.” …

“And if they disagree with me, they pat me on the head and think, What a sweet lady with a few screws loose. Either way, I get to speak my mind.”

“People get to choose who they want to be and how they act. We aren’t responsible for adults’ choices.”

“In Korea, we all bled red no matter what color our skin was.”

“This body I can control. What I can’t control is . . . everything else. God help me.”

“Even though I try to keep the emotions in that back pocket of mine, it doesn’t stop trauma from working its way into who I am.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Look for The Road Before Us to be a Christy contender! Your emotions won’t know what hit you!! Thankfully, our lives are based on the Truth of the Rock, evident in some of these characters.

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Love on a Whim by Suzanne Woods Fisher Review

May 31, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Love on a Whim

Series: Cape Cod Creamery, Bk 3

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Publisher: Revell

Genre: Contemporary Clean Romance

Released: May 2024

Brynn Haywood’s impulsive marriage to a man she’d known less than 24 hours leaves her with deep regret. She flees to Cape Cod, finding refuge with her loyal friend, Dawn Dixon. As Brynn grapples with her emotions, Dawn acts swiftly, eager to help secure a lawyer for her through her mother Marnie’s good friend, Lincoln Hayes. However, Lincoln’s preoccupation with his daughter’s lavish wedding brings unexpected challenges.

The arrival of Lincoln’s estranged son, Bear Hayes, stirs the waters further. Alarmed by his father’s extravagant generosity toward the Dixon family, Bear ignites friction between Marnie and Lincoln. As the wedding day arrives, Lincoln vanishes–and an unwelcome guest makes a surprise appearance.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delights with this sweet story of love, family, and the unpredictability of life.

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher loves stories worth telling about people worth remembering. With over a million copies of her book sold worldwide, this bestselling, award-winning author of more than 30 books is always on the lookout for the unsung hero with an untold story.

Readers are invited to stop by Suzanne’s website at: http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

My Impressions

“If only love had a recipe. Love was a hot mess.”

Of the three Cape Cod Creamery books by Suzanne Woods Fisher, Love on a Whim is definitely my fave! I think perhaps because by this third book, the town of Chatham on Cape Cod is a familiar setting. Marnie, Linc, Dawn, and Kevin, plus Leo, Bruno, and Callie now all seem like old friends. And, just in case you’ve forgotten who’s who, there is a character list that will prepare you for certain personality quirks! Yay!! Plus, double yay, a glossary at the front, not the back after the book is finished! That being said, these books really need to be read in order, so you can build your understanding of this Creamery world.

Brynn Haywood, Dawn’s best friend and college roommate, flees to Chatham after waking up married to a near-stranger, something the “Sensible Sisters” would never, ever do in their wildest dreams. Yet, Brynn has committed the deed and is now mortified. Dawn, an inveterate “fixer,” spends her energy plotting how to get Brynn’s marriage annulled, even as Dawn frets over infertility issues of her own.

This book sees the ultimate planner, Dawn, pitted uncomfortably against her more easy-going, empathetic, listener mother, Marnie. Some of the conflict we saw between the two in book one is back in play as Dawn is bound and determined to “take care of things.” Marnie urges Brynn to slow down and listen to her heart. What does Brynn really want?

To add to this initial situation, Linc’s family is coming to town for his daughter’s wedding. Linc is not acting like the Linc we know, but possibly like he described himself in the past. What exactly is up with that?

When the family arrives, the ex is making the wedding a circus, and it will take all hands on deck to pull it off. Not only that, but Bear, the son, is the epitome of what his father used to be: concerned only about himself, too busy for others, unkind, just not the kind of person you want to be around at all! And he holds a giant grudge against his father and Marnie and anyone Linc helps.

If you’re not salivating for ice cream ( double fold vanilla, esp.) by the end of this book, you either aren’t human, or you may have read way too fast!

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads via NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“even the best marriage requires forgiveness. And forgiveness takes practice. It comes in fits and starts. It’s a lifelong work. Sometimes I think we’re all beginners at it. But as long as you’re trying to forgive, you’re forgiving. It’s only when we don’t even try that bitterness sets in.” [ What wonderful advice!]

“I am turning into, Heaven save me, my mother.” -[How many of us think this might be a fate worse than death?!!]

“Most problems could be solved, as long as they were addressed and not ignored. If you ignored a problem, you’d regret it. And if you didn’t, the Internal Revenue Service would help you regret it.” [Just one reason in the book to laugh!]

“Giving thanks was the lifeboat in any crisis.”

I had the amazing opportunity to meet Suzanne a few weeks ago at a readers’ convention in Grand Rapids, MI. Fiction Readers Summit was sponsored by Baker Book House. We were blessed to be able to have several conversations. Suzanne is as sweet as her books!

( Forgive the black eye. I fell the week before at work and hit the floor very hard. Ugh! I needed some good books to distract me from the black eye in the mirror!!)

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!! While you may have a good guess where this novel is going, it is a lot of fun to see how Fisher is going to lead you there!

What You’ll Want to Read First

The Sweet Life,

Cape Cod Creamery Bk 1 by Fisher

The Secret to Happiness,

Cape Cod Creamery, Bk 2 by Fisher

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Publishers, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

Twice Sold Tales by Chautona Havig Review and Giveaway

January 20, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Twice Sold Tales

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian / Romantic Women’s Fiction

Release date: November 2, 2022

If only owning a bookstore didn’t mean dealing with people.

No one was more surprised than Harper Brevig when Great Aunt Lorene (not “Lori,” thank-you-very-much) died and left her least favorite niece her bookstore–including a prime piece of real estate in downtown Red Wing, Minnesota.

Making a go of the place shouldn’t be too hard. With her library science degree, she should be set. Then again, the website describing library degrees had said it would teach her excellent communication skills. It had not. Could she get a partial refund?

Still, owning the building should mean crazy-low overhead to offset her less than optimal “book-side” manner. Ahem. So when yet another huge bill arrives, and she starts getting twitchy about the low bank balance, Harper does the only thing she can think of.

Enter Milton Coleridge. He’d been excited about the possibilities of the store last year, but Harper had sent him packing before he could talk to her about them. Now he has a chance to make a difference. But she’s right. She’s bleeding money, and it doesn’t make sense!

Milton’s job is to figure out what’s going on, plug the financial leak, and maybe… do a little matchmaking. That dad with the adorable little boy would be good for her… and she’d be good for him. Probably.

Twice Sold Tales: the first full-length novel in the Bookstrings series releasing with The Mosaic Collection

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona

“What kind of research does a contemporary book need? I mean, she’s a bookstore owner in a town you’ve been to several times. What’s there to research?”

I can’t be the only author to get questions like this. And I certainly can’t be the only one who has to fight the urge to laugh. Folks, authors research everything. In Twice Sold Tales, I think I looked up almost as much as I did in my Meddlin’ Madeline Mysteries!

Because here’s the deal. What I didn’t know about Red Wing, Minnesota wouldn’t have hurt the story most of the time. Who cares that Bev’s Café has amazing creamy cucumbers? It doesn’t technically matter. Well, except to my character who hates veggies but will eat those. They make her feel virtuous. And you get to know about it.

But… what you discover about a place or a time or an occupation or whatever can totally change the course of your story. Case in point? I went to a website about River City Days because my niece suggested it might be a good thing for Noah to do with his son. That led me to the Farmer’s Markets and to other things. How I got to the first Ghost Walk in Red Wing taking place this year? I don’t even know. What I do know is that the moment I read about it, I knew Harper had to go. And if she did, and if Milton were the instigator, Noah had to go. #BecauseMatchmaker.

And this is where it got really cool. To make the walk as authentic as I could, I read everything I could find about it. And I discovered something super cool. Like… blow you out of the water cool.

Red Wing, Minnesota sits near the shore of Lake Pepin. Little House on the Prairie lovers will remember this as the lake that Laura Ingalls crossed in the wagon as they left the Big Woods of Wisconsin (you know, right across the river/lake from Red Wing???) Well… Lake Pepin has a monster—the Nessie of the Mississippi. Yes, you read that right… a monster! I went looking and guess what? The “monster” has a name. Pepie! Needless to say, Pepie became a an important part of my story. Because how could he not?

And… I happened to find a stuffed Pepie at Treats & Treasures in Lake City, just south of Red Wing, so I ordered a couple for giveaways—including the one with this blog tour. Happy reading, and what do you think? Shouldn’t someone write Pepie’s story?

My Impressions

“While our book friends feed our minds, the Lord uses His people to feed our hearts and souls. Don’t let any of your person starve.”

Ugh, Chautona Havig got me this time! In Twice Told Tales, I saw places in my life I need to improve. I identified way too easily with Harper Brevig, the main character. Harper is a booktrovert. “Harper, most people are interesting and even more multi-layered than the best-crafted character. Some you just have to get a little further into the pages of their stories before they show it.” It is way easier to read than to make friends! (Not that reading is wrong, but see the quote at the beginning of my review!) But the snark! (Chautona’s characters always have plenty of snark, but that makes them so fun!!) I love her collection of bookish T-shirts, and if you’re a book lover, you will, too. Harper has good qualities, too. She deeply loves those she takes into her small circle. Compassion and caring are part of her nature.

Milton is fun as he comes in and match-makes along with urging bookstore growth and changes. Anybody who has such a unique pet as a parrotlet has got to be worth getting to know. I hope one of these stories will eventually be his.

My heart goes out to Noah Lampe. He is so focused on being the perfect parent that he can’t see that he is enough for his newly discovered son, Bennie. Then he makes some discoveries about God as our Father.

If you love children at all, you will fall for Bennie hook, line, and sinker. The instability of his former life has branded him, and he needs both Noah and Harper to build into his life. The question is, can Harper be counted on?

Havig loves literature of all kinds. Since the story takes place in a bookstore, there are plugs for every from the classics to contemporary Christian novels. This book is almost a novel suggestion resource in and of itself !

“Harper, most people are interesting and even more multi-layered than the best-crafted character. Some you just have to get a little further into the pages of their stories before they show it.”

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit, plus I bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! You haven’t read until you’ve read a Havig book!!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 21

Vicky Sluiter, January 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 22

Mary Hake, January 22

Texas Book-aholic, January 23

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, January 23

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 24

deb’s Book Review, January 24

All-of-a-kind Mom, January 25

Lots of Helpers, January 25

Cover Lover Book Review, January 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 26

Splashes of Joy, January 27

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, January 27

She Lives To Read, January 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 29

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, January 30

For Him and My Family, January 30

Divine Perspective, January 31

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 31

Aryn the Libraryan, February 1

Books I’ve Read, February 1

Blogging With Carol, February 2

Back Porch Reads, February 2

Pause for Tales, February 3

Spoken from the Heart, February 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback of the book, a stuffed “Pepie” and a few other bookish goodies!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/23bc5/twice-sold-tales-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, NetGalley, Revell

The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher Review and Giveaway

June 1, 2022 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Sweet Life

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release date: May 3, 2022

Jilted by her fiancé, Dawn Dixon escapes to beautiful Cape Cod on a groomless honeymoon–with her mother. But she didn’t expect her mom to risk everything, on a whim, to move there permanently or buy a rundown ice cream shop in need of repair. In order to make their new life work, they’ll also need her ex’s help.

Click here to get your copy!

My Impressions

“Never invest with your heart, only with your stomach.”

If you’re not looking for the nearest made-from-scratch ice creamery after you finish The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher, you may not be completely human. The extensive details about ice cream making are fascinating and show Fisher’s great research/familiarity with the cold dessert. For me, this was the strongest and best part of the book.

I truly enjoyed seeing how this mother-daughter duo interacted with each other. I couldn’t decide whether I identified with Dawn or Marnie more. Each had qualities that were relatable, so I flipped back and forth, which really made me enjoy that aspect of the book.

I was a fan of the novel by its end, which is superb. However, it took me a good one-third of the book to truly care about Marnie, Dawn, Kevin, and others the way I wanted to. I felt that we were told, rather than shown, much about the characters in the first part.

Lincoln is such an endearing, encouraging person to have as a friend! If only there were more such selfless people in the world. His view on cancer is upbeat, and he holds out the light of Hope and faith to others traveling that scary path.

Great discussion questions at the end would make a book discussion group easy to lead. I am prepared for a field trip to Cape Cod, Chatham in particular!!

————————————————————————

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit through NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

————————————————————————

Notable Quotables:

“Love does not have an expiration date.”

“I’m not going to let you hemorrhage Dad’s life insurance policy on a melting ice cream cone.”

“Cancer is a wonderful teacher. If you let it, it’ll teach you lessons you never dreamed you needed to learn.”

“The most important thing Dawn expected from her ice cream was consistency—because she couldn’t expect it from the rest of her life.”

“God wants to hear those honest prayers. No filter. From the gut…”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great! Guess what kind of shop I’m stopping at, on my next vacation!! I’ll be picturing Dawn and Marnie behind the counter!!

About the Author

With over 1.5 million copies sold, Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author of over 30 books, ranging from novels to children’s books to non-fiction. She is a Christy Award finalist, a winner of Carol and Selah awards, and a two-time finalist for ECPA Book of the Year. She writes stories that take you to places you’ve never visited—one with characters that seem like old friends. But most of all, her books give you something to think about long after you’ve finished reading it. Suzanne lives with her very big family in northern California.

More from Suzanne

The Sweet Life is a story about a mom and a daughter who, both in need of a little respite from life’s bumps and bruises, start an ice cream shop on Cape Cod…thinking it will be easy. After all, who doesn’t love ice cream?

Well, sure. That’s true. Everybody loves ice cream. But ice cream can be tricky. This I can say with authority. My husband is a serioushobby ice cream maker. He even attended Penn State’s Ice Cream School. While Steve was working on his vanilla recipe, he experimented fifty-nine times before he was finally satisfied. 59 times! Other flavors, like chocolate, can mask mistakes. Not vanilla. Too pure.

Here’s a few other things you probably didn’t know about ice cream:

The very first mention of a frozen dessert dates back to Persia in 550 BC, though it might have been sorbet-like. It’s said that Emperor Nero had ice brought down from the Apennine Mountains to produce a sorbet of honey and wine. And then there are those who insist that ice cream came out of China, and were introduced to Italy with the help of Marco Polo. Regardless of its origins, a love of ice cream has been around for a very, very long time.

Quaker colonists introduced ice cream to early America, having brought their recipes with them from England. Some argue that the French brought ice cream to America. Regardless, during the colonial era, ice cream was sold in shops in New York.

George Washington loved ice cream. So much so that he even brought ice cream making equipment to Mount Vernon! There are many accounts of “ice creem” (as it was then called) served during his administration.

First Lady Dolley Madison, wife of U.S. President James Madison, served ice cream at her husband’s Inaugural Ball in 1813. Common colonial flavors were soft fruits, like peaches or strawberries, added to a vanilla custard. Dolley had a curious favorite flavor: oyster. (Ugh.)

In September of 1846, a Philadelphia house wife named Nancy Johnson filed patent #3254 for a simple hand cranked ice cream churn. Prior to this point, ice cream belonged to the wealthy. Her hand cranked ice cream churn made it affordable for everyone. Nancy Johnson’s design is still used today.

During the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, an ice cream vendor ran out of cardboard dishes. The vendor next door offered to make cones by rolling up his waffles. Voila! The birth of the ice cream cone.

The majority of American ice cream companies have been in business for more than 50 years. Many of them are still owned by single families.

For the last 128 years, Penn State University has held Ice Cream School for professionals and serious hobbyists during January (for obvious reasons). All the greats have attended: Baskin & Robbins, Ben & Jerry, Dreyer’s, Nestle’s, Blue Bell Creamery, Dairy Queen, and…my husband.

The most popular flavor in the world? Vanilla. Of course.

Blog Stops

Back Porch Reads, May 26

Inside the Wong Mind, May 26

The Avid Reader, May 27

lakesidelivingsite, May 27

Vicky Sluiter, May 27

Remembrancy, May 28

Southern Gal Loves to Read, May 28

Splashes of Joy, May 28

Texas Book-aholic, May 29

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 29

Miriam Jacob, May 29

Daysong Reflections, May 30

Inklings and notions, May 30

For Him and My Family, May 31

The Book Club Network, May 31

Blogging With Carol, May 31

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 1

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 1

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, June 2

deb’s Book Review, June 2

Artistic Nobody, June 2 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 3

Jeanette’s Thoughts, June 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 3

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 4

Blossoms and Blessings, June 4

Mary Hake, June 4

Christina’s Corner, June 5

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 6

Book Looks by Lisa, June 6

Simple Harvest Reads, June 6 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Pause for Tales, June 7

Spoken from the Heart, June 7

She Lives To Read, June 8

Bigreadersite, June 8

Labor Not in Vain, June 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1e36c/the-sweet-life-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Publishers, Celebrate Lit Tour, Purchase

Mishaps off the Mainland, #5 Merriweather Island by Tabitha Bouldin, Review and Giveaway

December 20, 2020 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Mishaps off the Mainland

Author: Tabitha Bouldin

Genre: Christian fiction, contemporary romance

Release Date: November 24, 2020

All Mel wants is to run the business of her dreams.

Melody Carmichael’s mobile pet grooming business might sink before it can sail when a favorite pet escapes her care. Doggie escape-artist, Daphne, got a taste of freedom, and the Afghan hound refuses to be found.

Enter Zeke Solomon. Desperate to bring the dog home for his grandmother, Zeke steps in to save the day.

And working together with Zeke would be a snap—if he would just stop blaming Mel for Daphne making a break for it.

Zeke is desperate to prove himself worthy of the Solomon name and step out from his father’s shadow. With his father breathing down his neck and demanding he return to the company business, Zeke must decide whether confronting the man he admires most is worth the risk of alienation.

Everything’s falling apart, and Mel’s dream transforms into a nightmare. She thought this was what God wanted for her life, but can you blame her for second-guessing everything?

Was it all just a mistake?

Mishaps off the Mainland is the fifth “Merriweather book” in a new series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Island Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

My Impressions

Cheers for an all-around great book by a new-to-me author, Tabitha Bouldin. Bouldin joins forces with several other Christian authors to tell the tales of various small businesses on a group of islands off the coast of Georgia. While the books are loosely connected, I did miss a few without feeling like I was missing any vital facts pertaining to this story, Mishaps off the Mainland. I always want to applaud for a novel whose title is especially apropos, and Bouldin’s creation is one of these. Contemporary romance is not my first love, but Bouldin makes me forget that as she introduces characters like Mel (owner of Zoomin’ Groomer) and Zeke and Miss Evelyn. These three stole my heart, as did the dogs and cats involved. The easy, every day language flowed smoothly, while Bouldin’s snarky humor made me stop to laugh. Consider the following:
“Dressed in a navy pencil skirt, white flowy top, and carrying what looked like a real Gucci bag under her arm, with her nose lifted so high she couldn’t possibly see the ground, this woman would not tolerate a single dog hair in her presence.”
“Penciled-in eyebrows struggled against the Botox holding them aloft as the woman shook her head.”

Themes of chasing one’s own interests more than chasing God, and needing an earthly father’s approval make for great conflict, along with a fledgling relationship that sometimes needs handled with kid gloves. I heartily recommend this book for those who love Christian contemporary romance, who love dogs and cats, or who have ever struggled to receive a parental blessing or figure out God’s will.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit. I also purchased my own copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review. All opinions are my own.

My Rating

Magnificent

About the Author

Tabitha Bouldin is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and an avid reader. When she’s not busy homeschooling her two boys, you’ll find her buried in a book.

More from Tabitha

Why mobile pet grooming?

I get this question a lot when I bring up Mishaps off the Mainland.

I mean, I could have chosen any occupation as long as it could be mobile. Anything from a mobile doctor office to a bug specialist. The world was wide open for ideas.

After just completing a rather serious series, I wanted to write something lighter, funnier, but with that same depth and heart that I love to read. I also needed something that fit my character, and Mel had some pretty strong opinions right out of the gate.

You see, Mel is one of those characters who spoke to me right away. She loves animals. All animals but especially dogs. They’re her happy place. Mel is also a giver. She will drop everything to help someone else.

When I asked her what her dream job would be, she answered me faster than any character ever has. Pet groomer! (Yes, I talk to my characters.)

And I thought, why not a mobile pet groomer? She gets to spend all her time with animals (which is a bonus for me as the author), and Mel’s character traits can shine through her actions and reveal her giving heart.

Once the job was decided, I knew there needed to be some drama. What would be the underlying fear of a pet groomer? I didn’t want to injure an animal, so I went for what felt like second most traumatic, an escaped animal.

While Daphne’s escape is serious and causes Mel no end of sleepless nights, it also provides some comedic relief for Mel and Zeke while they work through their own personal battles. I like to think of Mishaps off the Mainland as a mixture of quirky fun and serious truth. The story was a joy to write, and I hope you fall in love with Mel and Zeke.