Blog Tour: Review of Autumn Skies by Denise Hunter

Author: Denise Hunter
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: October 20, 2020

From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom and A December Bride (now beloved Hallmark Original movies) comes the third and final novel in the Bluebell Inn series!
When a mysterious man turns up at Grace’s family-run inn, it’s instant attraction. But she’s already got a lot on her plate: running the Bluebell Inn, getting Blue Ridge Outfitters off the ground, and coping with a childhood event she’d thought was long past.
A gunshot wound has resurrected the past for secret service agent Wyatt Jennings, and a mandatory leave of absence lands him in Bluebell, North Carolina. There he must try and come to grips with the crisis that altered his life forever.
Grace needs experience for her new outfitters business, so when Wyatt needs a mountain guide, she’s more than happy to step up to the plate. As their journey progresses, Grace soon has an elusive Wyatt opening up, and Wyatt is unwittingly drawn to Grace’s fresh outlook and sense of humor.
There’s no doubt the two have formed a special bond, but will Wyatt’s secrets bring Grace’s world crashing down? Or will those secrets end up healing them both?

Autumn Skies is the third book in the Bluebell Inn series.  Out of the three this one was definitely my favorite.  It can be read a stand alone book.  There is enough background given about the first two books that you won't be lost.  This one is the youngest sibling, Grace and her love interest Wyatt.  Wyatt is on a forced leave from the secret service.  He heads to North Carolina to try to reconcile something from his past in hopes that it will help him with his future.  Grace has lived with survivor's guilt since her childhood when she narrowly escaped being kidnapped.  She is looking to get the Inn sold so she can get her business off the ground.

I really loved this one.  The attraction between Wyatt and Grace was instant and really adorable.  I loved this couple.  I loved their honestly with each other.  The romance was sweet and very clean.  I loved how they help each other work through their issues and to find peace.  The other thing I loved about this last book was the way the Inn situation was wrapped up.  It was a perfect ending.  I highly recommend this one.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Denise Hunter

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

Denise Hunter’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, October 19th: Mom Loves Reading and @mom_loves_reading
Monday, October 19th: @niks_nook
Tuesday, October 20th: Books & Spoons
Tuesday, October 20th: @lifeinlit
Thursday, October 22nd: Bewitched Bookworms
Thursday, October 22nd: The Romance Dish
Friday, October 23rd: @angelareadsbooks
Friday, October 23rd: View from the Birdhouse
Saturday, October 24th: Nurse Bookie and @nurse_bookie
Monday, October 26th: Leighellen Landskov and @mommaleighellensbooknook
Monday, October 26th: Kritter’s Ramblings
Tuesday, October 27th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy
Tuesday, October 27th: @paperbacksandpeonies
Wednesday, October 28th: Into the Hall of Books
Thursday, October 29th: @bluntscissorsbookreviews
Friday, October 30th: What is That Book About
Monday, November 2nd: @pnwbookworm
Monday, November 2nd: Amy’s Book-et List and @amysbooketlist
Tuesday, November 3rd: Hallie Reads
Wednesday, November 4th: Audio Killed the Bookmark and @beritaudiokilledthebookmark
Thursday, November 5th: From the TBR Pile
Monday, November 9th: Girl Who Reads
Tuesday, November 10th: Blooming with Books
Wednesday, November 11th: Run Wright and @karen_runwright
TBD: Thursday, October 29th: Moonlight Rendezvous

Blog Tour: Review of Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter

Author: Denise Hunter

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: August 2, 2020

A jilted bride. A struggling innkeeper. And a romantic mountain getaway that changes everything

Rising Hollywood star Mia Emerson is looking for a safe place to land in the wake of a public breakup and celebrity scandal, and she finds it in the lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina—the location of her canceled honeymoon. She wants nothing more than to hide and wait for the tabloids to die down.

Soon after her arrival at the Bluebell Inn, Mia meets Levi Bennett, who runs the inn along with his two younger sisters. Drawn to one another from the start, Mia trusts Levi to keep her location from the press, and Levi confides in Mia about the precarious financial state of the inn—a secret he’s been keeping from his sisters.

When Mia and Levi discover an old journal that hints at a rare diamond necklace hidden in the inn, they set off on a treasure hunt to find the long-lost heirloom. What they don’t expect to surface are feelings they thought were safely locked away. Mia and Levi must decide if falling in love again is too big a risk—or if it will uncover a treasure of its own instead.

Carolina Breeze is the follow-up to Lake Season.  The series involves three siblings, after losing their parents. vow to continue with their parents'  dream of opening up the Bluebell Inn.  This is Levi and Mia's story.  While I did enjoy his one, I didn't like it as much as Lake Season. The reason being I was never invested in the romance between Levi and Mia.  It felt a bit forced to me and I didn't really feel like to had time to grow. 

What I loved more about this book was the relationship between the siblings.  Poor Levi felt like he had to take the world on his shoulders.  While a bit misguided, he did what he could to make sure his sisters had what they needed.  I loved how they came together in the end.  If you loved Lake Season, there is a scene with Molly in this one that will make you smile.  I do look forward to Grace's story.  I do recommend this one.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Denise Hunter

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

Denise Hunter’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, May 18th: Read Eat Repeat and @readeatrepeat1

Tuesday, May 19th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy

Wednesday, May 20th: The Romance Dish

Thursday, May 21st: @cassies_books_reviews

Friday, May 22nd: Kritter’s Ramblings

Friday, May 22nd: Christian Chick’s Thoughts

Tuesday, May 26th: Audio Killed the Bookmark and @beritaudiokilledthebookmark

Wednesday, May 27th: Run Wright

Thursday, May 28th: @honeynougats.reads

Thursday, May 28th: @angelareadsbooks

Friday, May 29th: @nsiabblog

Monday, June 1st: Bewitched Bookworms

Monday, June 1st:  @nurse_bookie

Tuesday, June 2nd: Into the Hall of Books

Thursday, June 4th: Living My Best Book Life and @livingmybestbooklife

Friday, June 5th: Books and Cats and Coffee

Monday, June 8th: The OC Book Girl and @theocbookgirl

Monday, June 8th: Blunt Scissors Book Reviews and @bluntscissorsbookreviews

Tuesday, June 9th: From the TBR Pile

Wednesday, June 10th: @megsbookclub

Thursday, June 11th: Running Through the Storms

Friday, June 12th: View from the Birdhouse

TBD: Monday, June 1st: Nurse Bookie

TBD: Wednesday, June 3rd: Girl Who Reads

Blog Tour: Review of Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter.

Author: Denise Hunter

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Date of publication: May 2019

Following a painful betrayal, Maddy Monroe’s love life is a wreck, and her restaurant career is in shambles. When her grandmother goes missing, she and her estranged sisters converge at the family beach house in Sea Haven, North Carolina. Being with uptight Nora and free-spirited Emma at the place where their family broke apart is a struggle, and undercurrents of jealousy and resentment threaten to pull the sisters under. In the midst of the storm, sparks begin to fly between Maddy and Gram’s maddening neighbor, Connor Murphy.

As the sisters pack up the family belongings, memories of idyllic, slow-paced summers are resurrected. But long-buried secrets also come to light as Maddy discovers that all was not as it appeared that last summer in Sea Haven—nor today in the seemingly perfect lives of her sisters.

As family tensions rise and Connor causes tumult in Maddy’s heart, the sisters must find a way to accept each other for the women they’ve become before the bitterness of the past destroys their hope for a future.

My thoughts;

Summer by the Tides is the latest from Denise Hunter.  It involves three estranged sisters who come back to their family summer home when their grandmother goes missing.  All three have secrets are still harboring resentments from years before.  The book mainly focuses on Maddy, who is suffering from a broken heart, and her growing friendship with neighbor Connor.  Their romance was very sweet and I loved watching their relationship grow from friends to more. The book is also deals with family secrets and how those secrets can tear a family apart.  But it is also about forgiveness and grace.  I was rooting for the sisters to find their way back to each other.

This will make a great beach read.  I highly recommend this sweet and clean summer romance.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About the author:

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

Instagram tour:

Monday, June 3rd: @read.write.coffee

Tuesday, June 4th: @beritaudiokilledthebookmark

Wednesday, June 5th: @_ebl_inc_

Thursday, June 6th: @my_book_journey

Friday, June 7th: @nsiabblog

Saturday, June 8th: @thecaffeinated_bibliophile

Sunday, June 9th: @sarahandherbookshelves

Monday, June 10th: @sarahs_reads

TOUR REPLAY: @TLCBookTours

Review tour:

Monday, June 10th: @angelareadsbooks

Tuesday, June 11th: Lori’s Reading Corner – spotlight or guest post

Tuesday, June 11th: Amy’s Book-et List

Wednesday, June 12th: Jathan and Heather

Thursday, June 13th: A Chick Who Reads

Friday, June 14th: View from the Birdhouse

Monday, June 17th: @simplykelina

Tuesday, June 18th: Reading Reality

Wednesday, June 19th: Empowermoms

Thursday, June 20th: I Wish I Lived in a Library

Friday, June 21st: Blooming with Books

Monday, June 24th: Mel’s Shelves

Tuesday, June 25th: Christian Bookshelf Reviews

Wednesday, June 26th: Midwest Ladies Who Lit and @mwladieswholit

Thursday, June 27th: Running Through the Storms

Friday, June 28th: From the TBR Pile

Monday, July 1st: Back Porchervations

Tuesday, July 2nd: Moonlight Rendezvous and @moonlight_rendezvous

Wednesday, July 3rd: Books and Spoons

Friday, July 5th: Kritter’s Ramblings

Monday, July 8th: Run Wright

Tuesday, July 9th: Girl Who Reads

Wednesday, July 10th: What is That Book About

Blog Tour: Review of On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter

Author: Denise Hunter
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Date of publication: November 2018

Pastor Jack McReady has secretly carried a torch for Daisy for two long years. She’s a member of his congregation, after all, and she’ll never see him as more than a trusted counselor. Jack’s best friend Noah has taken every opportunity to encourage his lovesick friend, but when Noah catches wind that Daisy has joined an online dating site, he takes matters into his own hands and orchestrates a meet-cute of the most unconventional kind.

Owner of the local flower shop, Daisy Pendleton is content with her small-town life, but she’d sure like someone to share it with. After several disastrous first dates, she’s about to give up—and then she finds a seemingly wonderful man online. Daisy gets to know TJ through a series of messages but finds herself spending more time with Pastor Jack outside of the church at the same time. What she doesn’t know is that her online prospect and Jack are one and the same.

Just as Daisy’s love life starts to look promising, a mysterious woman appears in town. Daisy is faced with a revelation about her family that turns her world upside down, and she looks to both TJ and Jack for help.

Jack must find a way to reveal himself as her online suitor without breaking her heart and losing her trust. As Daisy faces Jack’s betrayal, she’ll have to learn to extend grace to herself, her family, and the man she’s grown to love.

On Magnolia Lane is the third book in the Blue Ridge series.    This is Jack and Daisy's story.  For the most part, I enjoyed the story.   The romance was the best part of it.  Jack is more of an understated beta-male and Daisy is just kind of clueless and can't see who is right in front of her. I was rooting for them and loved their HEA.  

The book also deals with forgiveness.  There are a couple of side stories. One of which helps Daisy learn a lesson that we are all human and what can happen when we put someone up on a pedestal.   I did find that the book dragged in a few places.  However, it ended up being an enjoyable clean read.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 30 novels, including “The Convenient Groom” and “A December Bride” which have been made into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on the The 700 club and won awards such as The Holt Medallion Award, The Carol Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking good coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband raised three boys and are currently enjoying an empty nest.

Connect with Denise

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Instagram Tour Stops:

Monday, November 5th: @sarahandherbookshelves

Tuesday, November 6th: @thecaffeinated_bibliophile

Wednesday, November 7th: @rissi006

Thursday, November 8th: @jennblogsbooks

Friday, November 9th: @thesketchyreader

Saturday, November 10th: @kim_reads

Sunday, November 11th: @livethecozylife

Monday, November 12th: @_ebl_inc_

Review Tour Stops:

Monday, November 5th: Book by Book

Tuesday, November 6th: Christian Bookshelf Reviews

Wednesday, November 7th: View from the Birdhouse

Thursday, November 8th: Amy’s Book-et List

Friday, November 9th: The Sketchy Reader

Monday, November 12th: The Romance Dish

Tuesday, November 13th: Blooming with Books

Wednesday, November 14th: Romantic Reads and Such

Thursday, November 15th: Christian Chick’s Thoughts

Thursday, November 15th: Run Wright

Monday, November 19th: Fiction Aficionado

Tuesday, November 20th: Empowermoms

Wednesday, November 21st: From the TBR Pile

Friday, November 23rd: Kritter’s Ramblings

Monday, November 26th: The Lit Bitch

Monday, November 26th: A Chick Who Reads

Tuesday, November 27th: Read Eat Repeat

Wednesday, November 28th: Black ‘n Gold Girl’s Book Spot

Thursday, November 29th: Splashes of Joy

Friday, November 30th: What is That Book About

TBD: Jathan & Heather

Blog Tour: Honeysuckle Dreams by Denise Hunter

Author: Denise Hunter

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Date of publication May 2018

After Brady Collins’ ex-wife dies, he receives devastating news—his nine-month-old son Sam isn’t his son at all. And Sam’s wealthy maternal grandparents want custody of the child. Brady knows he’s in for the fight of his life. But regardless of what any blood test says, Sam is his son, and Brady will go to any lengths to keep him.

Brady’s attorney tips him off that one major life change would virtually assure him of winning guardianship of baby Sam at the final hearing: an impending marriage. And his friend Hope is willing to step in as the loving and devoted fiance.

Local radio celebrity Hope Daniels has been driven by a solitary goal her entire life, and after a happy accident she’s finally offered her dream job. But if the truth comes out about her arrangement with Brady, she may miss the chance of a lifetime and stand in the way of a dear friend’s dreams.

As Brady and Hope make sacrifices to help each other in their times of need, they risk uncovering a truth neither of them expects to find.

Honeysuckle Dreams is the second book in the Blue Ridge Romance series.  It holds up very well as a stand alone book even though characters from the first book show up in this one.  This is Brady and Hope's story.  It's a sweet friends to lovers story that will steal your heart.

 I liked the characters and the romance in this one much more than the first book (Blue Ridge Sunrise). I didn't care for that one much.   Brady and Hope were close friends before making the choice to marry so that Brady could keep custody of his son.  One of the things I loved about their story was that they had a conversation about their expectations for the marriage.  They wanted it to be real and took their time before starting a physical relationship.  Both Brady and Hope felt very real to me.  They brought fears and insecurities from their past into the relationship. But they were a couple you wanted to root for.  The only thing that bothered me was Hope not seeking counseling sooner for her issues.  A lot of the angst could have been avoided had she not avoided her fears. Since she doled out advice on her radio show, she should have known better. 

If you are a fan of clean Christian romance, then I do recommend this one.  It's another one that will make a great summer read.

Purchase Links

Amazon | iBooks | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than twenty-five 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 Tour:

Monday, June 18th: @read.write.coffee

Monday, June 18th: @thepagesinbetween

Tuesday, June 19th: @createexploreread

Wednesday, June 20th: @kim_reads

Wednesday, June 20th: @pnwbookworm

Friday, June 22nd: @acozyreader

Sunday, June 24th: @thecaffeinated_bibliophile

Sunday, June 24th: @girlandherbooks

Monday, June 25th: @rissi006

Review Tour:

Monday, June 18th: Fiction Aficionado

Wednesday, June 20th: Running Through the Storms

Friday, June 22nd: Blooming with Books

Monday, June 25th: @mrs.literarylovely

Wednesday, June 27th: Black ‘n Gold Girl’s Book Spot

Thursday, June 28th: Write Read Life

Friday, June 29th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Monday, July 2nd: Bewitched Bookworms

Tuesday, July 3rd: Kritter’s Ramblings

Thursday, July 5th: All of a Kind Mom

Monday, July 9th: A Chick Who Reads

Wednesday, July 11th: From the TBR Pile

Thursday, July 12th: Splashes of Joy

Thursday, July 12th: Read Eat Repeat

Monday, July 16th: A Night’s Dream of Books

Tuesday, July 17th: Empowermoms

Friday, July 20th: What is That Book About

TBD: Moments Dipped in Ink

TBD: The Library of Mrs. Gardner

TBD: The Sketchy Reader

Blog Tour: Sweet Briar Cottage by Denise Hunter

Author: Denise Hunter
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Date of publication: June 2017

Following his divorce, Noah gave up his dream job, settling at a remote horse ranch in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia, putting much-needed distance between himself and the former love of his life. But then Noah gets a letter from the IRS claiming he and Josephine are still married. When he confronts Josephine for the first time in months, they discover that she missed the final step in filing the paperwork and they are, in fact, still married.

Josephine is no happier about the news than Noah. Maybe the failed marriage—and okay, the botched divorce—was her fault, but her heart was shattered right alongside his, more than he would ever believe. The sooner they put this marriage behind them, the better for both of their sakes.

But when Josephine delivers the final paperwork to his ranch, the two become stranded in his cottage during the worst spring snowstorm in a decade. Being trapped with Josephine is a test of Noah’s endurance. He wrestles with resentment and an unmistakable pull to his wife—still beautiful, still brave, and still more intriguing than any woman he’s ever known.

As they find themselves confronted with each other and their shared past, old wounds surface and tempers flare. But when they are forced out into the storm, they must rely on each other in a way they never have before. Josephine finally opens up about her tragic past, and Noah realizes she’s never been loved unconditionally by anyone—including him. Will Noah accept the challenge to pursue Josephine’s heart? And can she finally find the courage to trust Noah?

Sweet Briar Cottage is the latest stand alone novel from Denise Hunter. She is one of my favotire christian literature writers.  The story follows Noah and Josephine who find out that their divorce was never finalized eighteen months prior.  They end up caught in a storm and have to spend 3 days stranded with each other.

I'll be honest, I really struggled with his story.  Anyone who has followed my reviews for a while knows how I feel about infidelity.  I have a hard time liking characters who are cheaters.  That being said, I gave this one a shot because I love this author.  In the end, I did like the story, I just didn't love it..

Through flashbacks, we see the very quick courtship between the couple and the betrayal that ripped them apart.  We also see what happened to Josie when she was a girl and how that shaped her outlook toward men and her self.  Clearly, the relationship was rushed, but after reflecting on it, maybe the divorce was as well.  I think revelations about her past help Noah to find forgiveness.  And I do think that Josie was on the right path to fixing herself through therapy.  In the end though, I had my reservations about the HEA. I felt like the forgiveness came a bit too quickly for me and I would have liked to see them in couples counseling.

Anyway, it wasn't a bad book.It was well written and full of emotion.  I definitely think it's worth reading.  The message of forgiveness is one I think we can all benefit from.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

“Sweetbriar Cottage is a wonderful story, full of emotional tension and evocative prose. Josephine and Noah, though deeply wounded, are easy to love in this story of second chances and unconditional love. Hunter slowly feeds critical pieces of backstory to keep the pages turning. You’ll feel involved in these characters’ lives and carried along by their story as tension ratchets up to a climactic and satisfying conclusion. Terrific read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.” —FRANCINE RIVERS, bestselling author of Redeeming Love

“Denise Hunter’s newest novel, Sweetbriar Cottage, is a story to fall in love with. True-to-life characters, high stakes, and powerful chemistry blend to tell an emotional story of reconciliation. Readers will sympathize with Josephine’s tragic past and root for a happy ending as old wounds give way to new beginnings.” –BRENDA NOVAK, NYT bestselling author

“Hunter crafts Noah and Josephine’s convoluted relationship with remarkable depth, immersing readers into a fragile and soul-searching experience.” —Publisher’s Weekly

About Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than twenty-five 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. You can learn more about Denise through her website 

DeniseHunterBooks.com or by visiting her Facebook page at facebook.com/authordenisehunter.

Connect with Denise

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Denise Hunter’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, July 17th: Reviews from the Heart

Wednesday, July 19th: Cafinated Reads

Thursday, July 20th: Kritter’s Ramblings

Wednesday, July 26th: Books a la Mode – author guest post

Thursday, July 27th: Just Commonly

Friday, July 28th: Art @ Home

Monday, July 31st: The Overweight Bookshelf

Tuesday, August 1st: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books

Wednesday, August 2nd: I’d Rather be at the Beach

Wednesday, August 2nd: Reading is My SuperPower

Friday, August 4th: From the TBR Pile

Monday, August 7th: Cheryl’s Book Nook

Tuesday, August 8th: Christian Bookshelf Reviews

Wednesday, August 9th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Thursday, August 10th: Fiction Aficionado

Monday, August 14th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy

Tuesday, August 15th: Books and Spoons

Friday, August 18th: A Chick Who Reads

Monday, August 21st: Steph the Bookworm

TBD: Black ‘n Gold Girls Reviews

Interview with Denise Hunter, author of Just a Kiss

We are really excited to share an interview with author Denise Hunter.  She is promoting her latest book, Just a Kiss.  Make sure to pick up a copy today! Buy it at Amazon

Author: Denise Hunter

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Date of publication: September 2016

What Happens When You Fall In Love With Your Best Friend?

THE HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER, FEEL-GOOD FINAL STORY IN WIDELY BELOVED SUMMER HARBOR ROMANCE SERIES 

“Hunter balances the dark side of love and war with a winning combination: realistically exploring the role that faith plays in healing, deftly creating a potent romance, and giving significant space for the lively and lovable supporting cast of Summer Harbor friends. Fans will be sad to see the Callahans say goodbye, but this tale of recovery and bravery is a fine parting gift.” -- Publisher's Weekly, Review on 8/12\\

Welcome Denise!

Autumn & Kari: What inspired you to become a writer?

Denise: I’ve always been an avid reader. I wrote a bit throughout high school, poetry and such, but I didn’t start dreaming about writing a novel until I was in my early 20s. But I was married, taking college classes, and had young children so I thought it wasn’t the right season of my life. Time was so limited. 

But the sudden death of my grandfather inspired me to take my dream off the back burner. I didn’t want to finish life with regrets. So I started writing my first novel  during my boys’ nap time.

Autumn & Kari: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?

Denise: Everywhere! Newspaper articles, songs, conversations, eavesdropping on conversations . . .  Hey, I work in a coffee shop—I hear things. :-)

Autumn & Kari:What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Denise: I have a stand alone novel coming out next June that I’m so excited about. It’s called Sweetbriar Cottage, and it’s a second chance story set in the North Georgia Mountains. Those characters came to me fully fleshed and practically breathing. Most of the story spilled out in note-form in a matter of days, and writing the novel felt almost like I was simply dictating someone’s story. I can’t wait to share it with readers!

Autumn & Kari: Who is your favorite literary character and why?

Denise: Wow, there are so many I love! I guess if I had to choose just one I’d pick Michael Hosea from Redeeming Love.

Autumn & Kari:Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

Denise: Definitely a sea otter. They just seem so happy and relaxed. 

About the author:

Denise Hunter is the internationally-published bestselling author of over 25 books, including Dancing with Fireflies and Falling Like Snowflakes. Her novel The Convenient Groom premiered as a Hallmark Channel feature film in June 2016, and in December 2016, the Hallmark Channel will premiere another feature film based on Hunter’s work, A December Bride.

Denise Hunter’s Summer Harbor series has had contemporary romance readers across the globe swooning since the September 2015 release of the trilogy’s first installment, Falling Like Snowflakes. On September 6, 2016, with the release of the third and final Summer Harbor story, Just a Kiss [Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins], fans will at last find out whether Riley Callahan and Paige Warren – best friends and the most star-crossed of Summer Harbor’s sweethearts – get a happily-ever-after after all. Anyone who has ever secretly fallen in love with their best friend is all too familiar with the special kind of heartache it can bring.

Smitten Book Club by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Denise Hunter & Diann Hunt

Authors: Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Denise Hunter, Diann Hunt
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Date of publication: February 2014

At a rummage sale, Heather, a member of the Fireside Book Club, discovers a turn-of-the-century romantic advice book written by a once-famous Smitten, Vermont, resident. When she shares the precious volume with her friends in the club, they find clues about a hidden treasure rumored to be buried in their tiny town.

As Heather, Abby, Lia, and Molly take turns reading the book, each projects onto it her own literary tastes. Heather sees it as a mystery. Abby discovers delicious dashes of Jane Austen. Lia sees in it the idealism of a bygone day. And Molly just wishes they'd made the book into a movie!

One by one, each of the women finds romantic love--often in spite of the historic book's advice. And in searching for the legendary gold, the friends discover the best kind of treasure. The kind that brings hope and healing to each of their hearts.

Smitten Book Club is the third collaboration  about the town of Smitten between these authors.  I have only read the second book, Secretly Smitten and I did enjoy that one.  These can really all be read as stand alone books, so I encourage you to try the others.  The book is made up of 4 novellas.  Each one dealing with a  different couple, but they are all tied together with the same story arc. 

Heather, Abby, Lia and Molly are all close friends who look forward to their weekly meeting with the Smitten Book club.  When they find an old book that gives love advice to single women, they also realize that it might hold clues to a hidden treasure.  I loved the little snippets from the book.  Some of the advice was dated but really funny!  The treasure hunt was also a lot of fun.  I liked all of the stories equally, so it was hard to pick a favorite.  I think readers will fall in love with all of the couples.

If you are looking for a great book to curl up with on a rainy day, make sure to visit the town of Smitten!

A Year of Weddings Novella 1 & 2 by Denise Hunter & Deborah Raney

Over the next 12 months, Zondervan (HarperCollins Christian Publishing) is releasing a new novella each month as part of their "Year of Weddings" series.  You can read more about the titles on the Zondervan website.  Today, I have the first two for you.

A December Bride 
Author: Denise Hunter
Date of publication: November 2013

What started as a whim turned into an accidental - and very public - engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the facade in Chapel Springs this holiday season - for the sake of her career . . . and his heart?

A December Bride features characters from Barefoot Summer.   Layla and Seth have known each other for a long time.  He used to be the best friend of Laya's ex-fiancee.  In order to spare herself the humiliation of going to his wedding (to her cousin) alone, Layla agrees to go with Seth.

I thought this was a sweet romance.  Layla and Seth were perfect for each other.  What starts out as an innocent lie grows into something that neither of them can deny. I loved all of the little things that Seth did for Layla.  I absolutely loved their HEA.  It was also nice to visit with some of the characters from Barefoot Summer.  A great start to the novella series!

A January Bride
Author: Deborah Raney
Date of publication: December 2013


Who can work in a house that's overrun by contractors and carpenters? Not Madeleine Houser, a successful novelist who gladly accepts the help of her octogenarian friend, Ginny, to arrange for a temporary office in the charming bed and breakfast owned by Ginny's friend, Arthur. 

The second in the series, A January Bride features two characters who fall in love before they ever really meet.  I enjoyed this one.  I liked the idea of the characters getting to now each other through notes and letters. The most amusing part was that each of them thought the other one was old.

 Arthur has been mourning his wife's death for a few years.  Madeleine has been unlucky in love.  They were perfect for each other.  Maddie was just what Art needed to help he move on with his life and reopen his heart. My only wish was that story would have been a little longer.  I felt like the proposal came a little too quickly.  I would have liked to see them spend more actual time together.  Despite that, it's a cute addition to the series and worth reading!