Friday, July 23, 2021

Review: "This Time Around" by Denise Hunter, Melissa Ferguson, & Kathleen Fuller


Do you read novellas? They've often gotten me out of a reading slump. You can read one in just a couple hours - great for an evening after a long day at work! Of course, romance novellas are my favorite, and This Time Around offers three great stories!

For lovers of happily ever afters—this collection of three light and sweet romance stories will sweep you off your feet.

In A Summer Detour by Denise Hunter, you’ll meet free-spirited Allie Adams, who undertakes a road trip to deliver her grandparents’ newly restored ’57 Chevy in time for their fiftieth anniversary party . . . along with Luke Fletcher, the former boy-next-door who callously crushed her heart.

Pining for You by Melissa Ferguson invites you to a cozy Virginia mountain town where Christmas tree farm owner Theo Watkins III has the opportunity to drop everything for one weekend to play farmer and potentially win back the heart of his childhood best friend, Skye Fuller. Only problem? He’s the kind of man who drives a Tesla, not a tractor. 

Last but not least, He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not by Kathleen Fuller will transport you to a small town in Arkansas where thirty-five-year-old Sophie Morgan has spent years making her flower shop a success. But when this workaholic decides she’s ready to make time for dating again, she finds herself with two handsome men vying for her attention.

Whether your perfect romance involves rows and rows of Fraser firs and white pines glinting in the moonlight, childhood love that never ends, or a second chance at a happily ever after, you’re sure to find a story within this collection to warm your heart any day of the year.


A Summer Detour by Denise Hunter

This novella is really cute! Sometimes, I feel like novellas are too rushed, but this one works well because Allie and Luke have a past, so it's not a super-quick falling in love. While some of the plot points felt clichéd and predictable, the journey was still enjoyable. Also, there were several genuine laugh out loud moments, which I always enjoy! (Keep an eye out for a raccoon and Grandpa's hearing difficulties!) The chemistry between Allie and Luke was spot on (this is a Denise Hunter novella, after all). It's a great way to spend an hour or two of your time. 4 stars.  

Pining for You by Melissa Ferguson

This is a sweet second chance romance. The romance between Skye and Theo was nice but not incredibly gripping. I was actually most interested in learning about what was going on with Skye's dad! I appreciated that there were serious issues at play, and the conflict between Skye and Theo stemmed from some of those issues - it brought an element of "realness" to the story. I enjoyed reading this novella, though it's not one that will stick with me. 3 stars.

He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not by Kathleen Fuller

Oh my goodness! The only thing I've read by Kathleen Fuller in the past is a few of her Amish novels and novellas, back when I was still reading Amish fiction more than a decade ago ... but this novella is spectacular! It's not overly complex; there aren't giant twists and turns, but it's oh so delightful and romantic. I loved Sophie (probably because I could see a bit of myself in her), and Joe was so great. Two weeks after reading it, I'm still thinking about it ... and to me, that's the mark of a good story. (I also "cast" the Hallmark version and the Turk dizi version one night when I couldn't sleep ... maybe that will turn into a blog post someday.) 5 stars.

Buy the book (Amazon ad).

Read my reviews of books by Hunter, Ferguson, and Fuller.


Denise Hunter is the internationally published, bestselling author of more than 35 books, three of 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 chai lattes, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband raised three boys and are now enjoying an empty nest and two beautiful granddaughters. To learn more about Denise, visit her website DeniseHunterBooks.com; Facebook: @AuthorDeniseHunter; Twitter: @DeniseAHunter; Instagram: @deniseahunter.

Melissa Ferguson lives in Tennessee, where she enjoys chasing her children and writing romantic comedies full of humor and heart. Her favorite hobby is taking friends and acquaintances and turning them into characters in her books without their knowledge. She is confident you should read all her novels, starting with this one. Connect with her (and prepare for the possibility of becoming her next character) at melissaferguson.com; Instagram: @melissafergusonauthor; TikTok: @melissafergusonauthor; Facebook: @AuthorMelissaFerguson.

With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the USA TODAY bestselling author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield. Visit her online at KathleenFuller.com; Instagram: @kf_booksandhooks; Facebook: @WriterKathleenFuller; Twitter: @TheKatJam.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in this post are affiliate links; this means if you click the link and purchase an item, I will receive a small commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."



2 comments:

  1. I am looking forward to reading these soon. I never thought to rate each book separately like you did. I imagine my ratings will be similar to yours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have you had a chance to read these yet, Cindy? I hope you enjoy!

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...