"summer's list" by anita higman

Thirty-something single Summer Snow has been unlucky in love. But when her grandmother's dying wish is for Summer to complete a bucket list of sorts with the childhood friend she hasn't seen in twenty years, it seems Summer's luck in love is about to change.

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A dying wish alters the course of a young woman's life.

Life hadn't been easy for Summer Snow. In acts of selflessness---caring for her ailing parents and running her grandmother's bookstore---she had forfeited her youth and dreams for the needs of others. And the only tries she had at love . . . didn't turn out. She had the bookstore, she had her beloved granny, but she was missing something---or someone.

Opportunity strikes when Granny sends Summer on an unexpected adventure with one Martin Langtree, a kind but gangly young man from Summer's past. A childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked, and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer. Will Summer strike out on love again, or will things finally go her way?

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When I first heard about Summer's List, I was intrigued. I love reading about older heroines, and the bucket list concept combined with a long-lost best friend sounded fun and romantic. And it was, some of the time. However, I really struggled to connect with Summer's List. I think there are several reasons for this:

• The dialog often comes off as stilted and unnatural. I don't think I've met anyone who speaks quite like Summer, Martin, and Granny, and their conversations tended to make me feel removed from the story.
• The novel is dialog heavy and description light. This wouldn't be such a problem if the dialog was more natural, but because I didn't particularly enjoy the dialog, the lack of description only further removed me from the story.
• Martin's brothers are horrible at best and psychotic at worst. The resolution with them near the end of the novel really seemed too good to be true.
• A few things aren't explained fully, like Summer's parents' deaths and Martin's parents' abandonment. I definitely would have liked more information and, in the case of Martin's parents, a more thorough resolution.

I did enjoy certain aspects of the novel, though. I loved the list that Summer had to complete, especially the hot air balloon ride. That scene, as well as the events directly following, really tugged at my heart. Martin was completely endearing, and I enjoyed watching him rekindle his friendship (and more) with Summer. I also enjoyed the mystery of Martin's parents--both biological and adoptive. 

I wish that I had liked Summer's List more, but I just didn't connect with the majority of the novel. I do think that many readers will enjoy it, but it wasn't the novel for me. 2-1/2 stars.

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Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Higman's A Merry Little Christmas ( 3-1/2 stars) and Winter in Full Bloom (3 stars).

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Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She's been a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

Find Anita online: website, Twitter, Facebook

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate 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."

12 pearls, day 2: "christmas musings" by anita higman

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!

Merry Christmas from Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom” from the authors who were so kind to donate their time and talents! If you miss a few posts, you’ll be able go back through and read them on this blog throughout the next few days.

We’re giving away a pearl necklace in celebration of the holidays, as well as some items from the contributors! Enter now below. The winner will be announced on January 2, 2014, at the Pearl Girls blog.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Mother of Pearl, Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

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Christmas Musings by: Anita Higman

I feel great joy in preparing my home for the holiday season. I love to drape boughs of greenery along the staircase, swirl spices into a pot of apple cider that’s simmering on the stove, make crafty floral arrangements, and sing along with all my favorite carols. Then when friends and family come over for brunches and dinners, I put out my finest decoration, my best china, and my sincerest smile. I go all out. These are my guests, and I want the event to be welcoming, satisfying, and festive. I want them to feel like royalty.

When Christ arrived in Bethlehem, I wish He could have had a more splendid welcoming, a more regal place to sleep than a wooden trough where animals were fed. Even though His birth was without majestic lodgings or kingly adornments, I’m so glad He overlooked our foolish blunders, our lack of hospitality, and chose to live amongst us anyway. Jesus certainly could have chosen a different route and easier way to offer redemption.

But He didn’t.

Jesus came in one of the humblest possibly ways. He had a divine approach that left humans surprised and puzzled. And it turned into a road of pain beyond anything we can imagine. When it comes to God’s extravagant sacrifice and love that Christmas represents, He deserves a standing ovation. After all, Christmas holds the true secrets we’ve all been searching for: meaning to our lives on earth, victory over death, and life eternal.Christmas gives us a reason to work, to laugh, to dream, to love. Christmas is a holiday of the heart and earth’s finest celebration.

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Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. Her latest release, Marriage in Middlebury, is a tale of love, hope, and forgiveness. Anita's been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends. Visit Anita at her website.

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"winter in full bloom" by anita higman

About the book (from Litfuse): Lily Winter's wings are folded so tightly around her daughter that when empty nest arrives, she feels she can no longer fly. But Lily's lonely, widowed life changes in a heartbeat when she goes to visit a woman who is almost a stranger to her—a woman who also happens to be her mother. During their fiery reunion, her mother reveals a dark family secret that she'd been hiding for decades—Lily has an identical twin sister who was put up for adoption when they were just babies.

Without looking back, Lily—with her fear of flying—boards a jumbo jet and embarks on a quest to find her sister which leads half way around the world to Melbourne, Australia. Soon, she is befriended by imprudent Aussie who might prove to be the key to finding her sister. But her journey becomes a circle that leads her back home to attempt a family reunion and to find the one dream she no longer imagined possible—the chance to fall in love again.

My take: Winter in Full Bloom is the compelling story of Lily, a woman whose life is turned upside-down by the revelation that she has a twin sister. Her search leads her not only to her sister, but also to two things she didn't know she was searching for: a chance at love and a renewed relationship with her mother.

I greatly enjoyed the first half of the book, as Lily meets Marcus (the aforementioned "chance at love") and her sister Camille and forges relationships with both of them. But in the second half of the book, when Lily goes home and she and Marcus both confront their pasts, I didn't stay as engaged. In particular, I felt that the conflict with Lily's mother was resolved too simply, and the confrontation with Marcus's family, while intense, didn't quite ring true.

While it's not one of those "I just can't put it down" books, Winter in Full Bloom has an intriguing plotline and unpredictable twists. And can we just acknowledge that cover? I'm not sure what it has to do with the story, but it certainly is beautiful!

My rating: 3 stars

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my review of Higman's A Merry Little Christmas.

About the author: Best-selling and award-winning author Anita Higman has over 30 books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She's been a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends. Connect with Anita at www.anitahigman.com.

About the giveaway: Anita Higman's latest novel, Winter in Full Bloom, has just released. She's teamed up with her publisher, River North Fiction, for a fun giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party on August 29th.

 
  One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD
• Winter in Full Bloom by Anita Higman

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 28th.Winner will be announced August 29th at the Winter in Full Bloom Author Chat Party on Facebook. During the party Anita will be hosting a book chat, talking about family, announcing the winner of the Kindle Fire, and giving away a ton of books, gift certificates, and more. Oh, and she'll also be giving party goers an exclusive look at her next book.

So grab your copy of Winter in Full Bloom and join Anita on the evening of August 29th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)

DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN; RSVP TODAY. HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 29th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate 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."

"a merry little christmas" by anita higman

About the book (provided by Litfuse): Fall in love with this cozy story about two people from different worlds.

Franny Martin is an Oklahoma farm girl who's preparing to spend the holidays alone...again. Then Charlie Landau shows up one day, all wealth and polish, and offers to buy Franny's farm. Franny has no money to speak of, but she is clever and spirited, and she's more than happy to sell the farm and move to the city.

As Sinatra croons from the radio and Christmas descends upon her charming farm, Franny teaches Charlie the curious and sometimes comical ways of country life. In the process, they unearth some discoveries of the heart-that sometimes love comes when you're least ready for it. Will the holidays bring their most impossible dreams within reach?

My take: As I read the first few chapters of A Merry Little Christmas, I kept thinking the story would make a great Hallmark Christmas movie. Soon I realized the plot was much more complex than the usual Hallmark film (and much more complex than the book description implies), as it contained racism, murder, and intense family issues.

There is much to like about A Merry Little Christmas. Franny is a very likable, spunky heroine, and her romance with Charlie is sweet. These days, I'm all about stories where "older" women find love! Also, I really enjoyed the subplots involving Charlie's brother and Franny's friend. But there were so many subplots that I had difficulty believing everything actually happened between the beginning of November and Christmas Eve. I also didn't think the resolution of the plot line involving Charlie's father rang true.

Despite my reservations, I did enjoy A Merry Little Christmas. It's a quick read with engaging characters. And while I don't usually mention the physical nature of the book in my reviews, I want to talk about this one. It's a hardback with the title debossed into the cover, and the dust jacket is embossed. It's a very attractive book that would make an excellent stocking stuffer. 3-1/2 stars.

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.

About the author: Best-selling and award-winning author Anita Higman has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She's been a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

Find out more about Anita at http://www.anitahigman.com.

About the giveaway: Author Anita Higman invites readers to kick off the season with a spirited holiday tale. Anita is spreading the Christmas cheer by giving away FIFTEEN COPIES of the book. To enter to win A Merry Little Christmas, just head over to THE CONTEST PAGE at Anita's website and fill out the short form. Be sure to put BLOG CONTEST in the Subject Line. That's it. Winners will be announced on the Litfuse blog (and notified by email) on 11/9.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."