A Walk Along the Beach

Published on October 25, 2020October 23, 2020 by macjam4718 Comments

By Debbie Macomber

Book Blurb

Two sisters must learn from each other’s strengths and trust in the redeeming power of love in a touching new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

The Lakey sisters are perfect opposites. After their mother died and their father was lost in grief, Willa had no choice but to raise her sister, Harper, and their brother, Lucas. Then, as an adult, she put her own life on hold to nurse Harper through a terrifying illness. Now that Harper is better and the sisters are living as roommates, Willa has realized her dream of running her own bakery and coffee shop, bringing her special brand of caretaking to the whole Oceanside community.

Harper, on the other hand, is always on the go. Overcoming a terrible illness has given her a new lease on life, and she does not intend to waste it. When Harper announces her plan to summit Mount Rainier, Willa fears she may be pushing herself too far. Harper, for her part, urges Willa to stop worrying and do something outside of her comfort zone—like taking a chance on love with a handsome new customer.

Sean O’Malley is as charming as he is intriguing—a freelance photographer whose assignments take him to the ends of the earth. Soon Willa’s falling for him in a way that is both exciting and terrifying. But life has taught Willa to hedge her bets, and she wonders whether the potential heartache is worth the risk.

Life has more challenges in store for them all. But both sisters will discover that even in the darkest moments, family is everything.

Blurb taken from Goodreads

Book Cover photo from https://debbiemacomber.com/

My Review

Debbie Macomber’s A Walk Along the Beach is a poignant story of family, love, friendship, and heartache. Willa Lakey, at the young age of thirteen, became the caretaker of her younger brother Lucas and sister Harper after their mother’s untimely death. Their grieving father couldn’t handle the loss and sank into alcoholism. Harper is a cancer survivor having contracted leukemia a few years earlier. The two sisters are close and share an apartment. Willa is quiet and serious, while her sister is happy-go-lucky and lives life as if there were no tomorrow. Harper works as a yoga instructor when she isn’t preparing to climb Mount Rainier and Willa owns Bean There, a local coffeeshop, in the small town of Oceanside, Washington. But when Harper’s cancer returns, the whole family pulls together to face whatever may come.

Sean O’Malley has become a regular at the coffee shop, even though he doesn’t care for coffee. Harper believes that Sean and Willa belong together and convinces Willa to go talk to her customer. When Willa realizes she has feelings for Sean, her love is threatened by his job as a photojournalist, which takes him to far off, remote places, often so remote there is no way to contact him.

A Walk Along the Beach has wonderful and rich characters, as well as, a plot that will make you laugh and then bring you to tears. My only complaint is it ended too soon. This is my favorite Macomber novel by far. I read it in one sitting. Books that have sisters among the main characters are high on my “to read” list. This one certainly did not disappoint me.

I received an arc of this book from Net Galley in return for my honest review.

About the Author

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Thirteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2020, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publications include A Walk Along the Beach (July) and Jingle All the Way (October). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, an adult coloring book, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and five have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Author photo and biographical information taken from https://debbiemacomber.com/.

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Ms. Autumn Speaks Her Mind

Published on October 7, 2020 by macjam471 Comment

Lauren Scott’s “Ms. Autumn Speaks Her Mind” is both lovely and timely. Please enjoy reading and hop on over to her blog to read some of her stunning poetry.

Baydreamer ~ Lauren Scott

I am aware that Mr. Raging Fire stole my thunder, and honestly, it boils my insides, but certainly not selfishly. I reminisce on the good times when the people expressed their love as I made my entrance. How I gracefully entered into their lives wearing pomegranate reds, cinnamon browns, and squash yellows. The energy buzzed like a walk on the red carpet – a highly anticipated moment. My sweet fragrance beautified a stroll around the neighborhood. My cool touch refreshed, replacing summer’s harsh existence.

I worked with patience and diligence, brush and paint in hand to create my vibrant landscape. Lovely memories as vivid as the colors of my wardrobe…
memories of yesteryear before Mr. Raging Fire barged in, interrupting the balance of the nature of seasons.

Now, a sense of dread has crushed that sought-after anticipation of my arrival. And yet, defeat has not prevailed. This new reality only…

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The leaves upon the water

Published on October 7, 2020 by macjam472 Comments

A beautiful and heart-wrenching ballad from Jane Dougherty. Please hop over to her blog and read this and other examples of her brilliant poetry.

Jane Dougherty Writes

A ballad for the dverse prompt.

Dead leaves fall on the pool beneath the willows,
Red gold just like the colour of your hair,
As it lay against the linen of the pillows,
While the wind blows through the branches stripped and bare.

The wind blows through the branches sighing sadly,
A song of summer past, the swallows flown,
Of storm and gale and sea swell crashing madly,
And those who left, while I sit here alone.

I sat and watched the leaves drift on the water,
Too happy to see how some men deceive,
When I was full of pride in our first daughter,
And you were thinking of a way to leave.

You left, before the budding of the sallows,
The fever struck when came the winter cold,
The fever took the child too at all Hallows,
And I am left with naught but to grow old.

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A Heartfelt Christmas Promise: A Novel

Published on September 15, 2020August 25, 2020 by macjam4722 Comments

By Nancy Naigle

Available September 29, 2020

Book Blurb

A perfect gift that captures the spirit of the season, USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle’s A Heartfelt Christmas Promise celebrates the holidays, small-town traditions, and the generosity of love between two lost souls who find everything they ever wanted in each other.

Vanessa Larkin was supposed to be spending Christmas in Paris, France on a business trip she hoped to enjoy as a working vacation. Instead, she’s been assigned to Fraser Hills, North Carolina—home of the Best Fruitcake in the USA—to convert her company’s property into warehouse space and shut down Porter’s, the fruitcake factory. Offering retirement packages and selling locals on new job opportunities may not spread holiday cheer, but Vanessa believes she’s helping secure the town’s future.

Mike Marshall’s family founded Porter’s. For decades, the factory served as the lifeblood of the community until his grandfather sold the business to a Chicago corporation. The sale cost the town its independence—and the Marshalls their family ties. A horse farmer, Mike was never involved with his grandfather’s company, but still felt Fraser Hills lost part of its identity. And as a widower raising a teenage daughter, he’s suffered enough losses in one lifetime. News of the factory’s closing means losing another piece of the town’s legacy.

Far from the skyscrapers and rapid pace of the city, Vanessa finds herself enjoying the easygoing rhythms of rural living. With Mike as her guide, she learns to appreciate the simple pleasures found in shared holiday festivities among friends. Fraser Hills is a town she is growing to love—and Mike is someone she is falling in love with. Now all Vanessa needs is a Christmas miracle to give her newfound friends and home a gift they’ll cherish for many New Years to come.

Book Blurb and Cover Photo from Goodreads

My Review

Christmas always brings feelings of warmth, hope, home, and togetherness. Nancy Naigle’s, A Heartfelt Christmas Promise, delivers that and more. When Vanessa gets her next assignment, she finds instead of heading off to Paris, she is driving to Fraser Hills, North Carolina to clean up a mess left by the guy she is replacing. And she has a deadline! Arriving just before Thanksgiving, she has until Christmas to shut down the town’s claim to fame, Porter’s Fruitcake factory, and turn the space into a warehouse. But Porter’s has been run by the same family and employed much of the townspeople decades. To say, she was met with opposition from the townspeople, especially from Mike Marshall whose grandfather had started the company. Vanessa starts having warm feelings for the town folk and is determined to find a solution to benefit both her company and Porters. Neither Mike nor her boss is making it easy for her.

The characters are warm and caring, but also ready to fight for their town. This is a sweet and touching holiday story to get you in the holiday spirit.

I received ARC of A Heartfelt Christmas Promise from Net Galley for my honest review.

About the Author

USA TODAY Bestselling author, Nancy Naigle, writes love stories from the crossroad of small town and suspense.

With a career spent on the cutting edge of technology in the banking industry, she never let go of her dream to write. Now she works full-time writing stories that are a calming blend of community, family, and the simple things in life. She writes the kind of stories she hopes will provide an escape from the hectic day-to-day in the make-believe worlds she creates.

Look for Nancy’s titles in the Adams Grove series.
Sweet Tea and Secrets
Out of Focus
Wedding Cake and Big Mistakes
Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies
Mint Juleps and Justice
Barbecue and Bad News
~coming soon Porch Swings and Promises

Nancy also has co-written books with:
Phyllis C. Johnson ~ inkBLOT
Kelsey Browning ~ The Granny Series
Book 1- In For A Penny
Book 2 – Fit To Be Tied
Book 3 – In High Cotton
Book 4 – Under The Gun
Book 5 – Gimme Some Sugar

Boot Creek Novels
Life After Perfect
Every Yesterday
Until Tomorrow

Christmas Books
Christmas Joy
Hope at Christmas
Christmas in Evergreen
Dear Santa

Aside from writing she enjoys hunting for treasures in junk and antique shoppes, and getting crafty no matter what the medium from painting and digitizing embroidery designs, to weaving pine needle baskets. She also enjoys horseback riding on her palomino, Tooter.

A Virginia native, and spending most of her life in the Tidewater area, she now calls North Carolina home.

Author Bio and Photo from Goodreads

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Amazon

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The Small Dog’s Complaint…

Published on July 24, 2020 by macjam4714 Comments

Something to brighten your day from fabulously talented Sue Vincent and Ani.

The Small Dog

Dear writer…

I know you’ve only got two legs

And elephants have four,

But honestly, you sound like one

When walking ‘cross the floor.

It’s every night; I go to bed

And settle down to sleep,

You stumble round, make so much noise

‘T would make the Sandman weep!

Perhaps you ought to take more care?

Maybe you need to diet?

Or go to bed before I do…

Or maybe, just be quiet!

Dear Small Dog, are you being fair?

I’m quiet as a mouse!

I tiptoe through the pitch dark night

To navigate the house.

I open doors and close again

With care so they won’t creak,

It’s only when I find a bone

Barefooted, that I squeak.

If, on occasion, I might groan,

Or even, sometimes, curse,

It’s ’cause I’ve found a soggy chew,

A tennis ball, or worse!

You’ve left…

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Moses the Singer

Published on July 10, 2020 by macjam4714 Comments