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The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Sweet Life

About the Book

Book: The Sweet Life
Series: Cape Cod Creamery #1
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!

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher

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.

Connect with Suzanne: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon


My Review

The Sweet Life
by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Book 1 in the Cape Cod Creamery series
Rating: 4.5/5

Who doesn’t love ice cream and all the feelings of nostalgia it conjures up?! For a book that seemingly has very little romance, the author manages to weave a heartwarming story about trusting God and embracing your fears and weaknesses. I am excited to read more about this cute historical town and see what happens next.

First, the book cover makes me hungry for ice cream. LOL.
Second, the story doesn’t go where my Hallmark movie-loving heart thinks it will which is impressive. The story is not as predictable as one might think but it is well written and thought-out.
Third, the characters are achingly flawed but I loved seeing the relationships develop between them. The heart of the story belongs to the mother-daughter relationship which makes you laugh and cry. The characters have to deal with very serious realizations but also have moments that truly had me laughing out loud. And through it all, God’s faithfulness and love was highlighted.

Highly recommend this charming, small town story about destiny, second chances and love.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.


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 serious hobby 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

Mulberry Hollow by Denise Hunter

About the Book

Title: Mulberry Hollow
Series: Riverbend Romance #2
Author: Denise Hunter
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Publishing: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: April 19, 2022

Living life to the fullest always requires sacrifice.

Avery Robinson decided to be a physician after helplessly watching her mother lose a battle with a terrible disease. Now at risk of developing the same illness, Avery guards her heart from love. She’s driven to protect her loved ones as a workaholic doctor in the tiny mountain town of Riverbend Gap, North Carolina.

Contractor Wes Garrett is hiking the Appalachian trail, in memory of the man who died saving his life, when an illness racks his body. After an agonizing fifteen-mile hike to Avery’s clinic, he collapses on her doorstep. He recovers to find himself in debt again, this time to a beautiful doctor.

When he decides to help her renovate a rundown carriage house, the obstacles to their attraction sprout like weeds—starting with the woman waiting for Wes at the end of the trail. Will he be able to relinquish the debt he owes his best friend? And will Avery find the courage to risk everything for love?

The second book in Denise Hunter’s popular Riverbend Romance series explores what it might be like to live fearlessly and free.

Grab your copy here!


About the Author

Hunter Denise

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 25 books, including A December Bride and The Convenient Groom, which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Carol Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are rapidly approaching an empty nest.

Connect with Denise: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


My Review

Mulberry Hollow
by Denise Hunter
Book 2 in the Riverbend Romance series
Rating: 4.5/5

Yay for sequels! After loving Riverbend Gap from Denise Hunter, I was excited to read the next book Mulberry Hollow and discover Avery’s story. However, this story can be read as a standalone but where’s the fun in that? 😉

First, the book cover is stunning. I did not think they could outdo the first book’s cover, but the design team did an amazing job and it looks like a place that I would love to visit.
Second, the premise got me because I am a soon-to-be doctor (I graduate in May) and was very interested to see how the author portrayed a small-town rural doc. Let’s just say I feel like she did a great job. I also liked how the author was not afraid to address Avery’s fears regarding her mother’s illness and how it affected her. And since I’ve never read Wild or seen the movie – only seen that special Gilmore’s Girl episode), it was interesting to address some of the conditions with Wes’ character. Wes’ background was also very interesting with his work overseas and with his PTSD. The author gave a brief glance at what living with PTSD was like for Wes.
Third, the chemistry between the two main characters was swoon worthy and so romantic. I loved them together and felt the bond between them.
Fourth, I always love when the author can weave their faith into the story and bring a message of hope and healing.

Highly recommend if you enjoy Christian romance with humor, small-town charm and second chances.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.


More in the Series

Read my review of Riverbend Gap here.

The Do-Over by Bethany Turner

About the Book

Title: The Do-Over
Author: Bethany Turner
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: March 15, 2022

Sometimes dreams come true. Other times, the best outcome begins with an epic fail.

Career-driven McKenna Keaton has devoted her life to attaining the senior partnership at her law firm. So asking a man on a date should be nothing. But the past four days have been the worst of her life and have called everything she thought she knew about herself into question. Besides, she can’t remember her last real date—one that didn’t involve using a blind date as an opportunity to get a stranger’s perspective on effective cross-examination techniques. (It’s like sharing fondue with a jury!)

But a real date? And with shy, nerdy Henry Blumenthal—McKenna’s high school rival for valedictorian who once took three hours to beat her at chess? Scratch that. He’s Hank Blume now, the famed documentarian, Durham’s darling son, who has attained all his dreams and more. He also happens to look like he stepped out of an Eddie Bauer catalog.

Whereas McKenna is a disgraced workaholic from New York on unpaid leave, accused of a white-collar crime she would never commit, succumbing to panic attacks, watching her dreams unravel. At age thirty-eight—and destined by the family curse to die before she turns forty, it appears—it’s absolutely the wrong time to have a major crush on a man. Especially one who treasures his memories of McKenna as the girl Most Likely to Succeed.

Grab your copy here!


About the Author

Bethany Turner has been writing since the second grade, when she won her first writing award for explaining why, if she could have lunch with any person throughout history, she would choose John Stamos. She stands by this decision. Bethany now writes pop culture-infused rom-coms for a new generation of readers who crave fiction that tackles the thorny issues of life with humor and insight. She lives in Southwest Colorado with her husband, whom she met in the nineties in a chat room called Disco Inferno. As sketchy as it sounds, it worked out pretty well in this case, and they are now the proud parents of two teenagers. Connect with Bethany at seebethanywrite.com or across social media @seebethanywrite, where she clings to the eternal dream that John Stamos will someday send her a friend request. Text her any time at (970) 387-7811.

Connect with Bethany: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube


My Review

The Do-Over
by Bethany Turner
Rating: 4.5/5

“You know . . . You probably won’t actually die if you’re not married by forty.”

Wow. Bethany Turner does it again! I can’t believe I devoured this book and read it in one day. I couldn’t stop LOL.

First, the cover is stunning. I LOVE the cover. It is eye catching and beautiful with whimsy.
Second, Henry Blumenthal is my favorite. He is smart and artistic. I fell in love with him as McKenna was re-falling in love with him. The author is so good with her characters and the chemistry between him and McKenna was well written and believable.
Third, I loved all of the pop culture references that the author always incorporates. She is so creative in the way she weaves them throughout the story in such unique ways that make you laugh and sigh. She has a true gift that I’ve come to expect in her stories but I feel like this one goes above and beyond.
Fourth, the author really puts you inside McKenna’s head and it can get intense but it’s so worth it. I sort of wish she did dual POVs so I could get inside Henry’s head too.

Highly recommend if you enjoy a swoon worthy hero and a fiercely independent heroine on a journey back to each other.

PG-13.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.


More from the Author

Read my review of Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish here.

Read my review of Plot Twist here.