In Firefly Valley by Amanda Cabot

She's lost her dream job--but has she found the man of her dreams?

Devastated by a downsizing, Marisa St. George has no choice but to return to the small Texas town where she grew up. Though it means a giant step backward, she accepts a position as business manager at the struggling Rainbow's End resort. The only silver lining: Blake Kendall, a new guest who might make her believe in love at first sight. But will Marisa's dreams of happily-ever-after be turned upside down when she discovers Blake's real identity?

This warm and witty story of dreams deferred and mistaken identity will have you believing in second chances.

My Review:
If it's romance you want, this is the novel for you. Cupid is so busy that he's sure to run out of arrows! Romance begins with the wedding of Kate and Greg. They leave on their honeymoon while more love blooms in the small town of Dupree, Texas.

Love at first sight is experienced when Marisa St. George first spots Blake Kendall; sparks really fly. However, love does not run smoothly for this couple. Both wrestle with challenges. Marisa's abandonment issues stem from her alcoholic father who disappeared seven years ago. Now she grapples with an inability to trust any man. Blake, a prolific writer, cannot manage to put a single word on paper, and his agent becomes impatient. With the frustrations these two face, it's no wonder they fuss and fight!

Marisa's best friend, Lauren, grieves over the loss of her husband, Patrick. Lauren is a likable young mother so the reader hopes that a Prince Charming will appear.  Does Cupid have an arrow left for her? Marisa's mother, Carmen, still loves her absent husband, and she insists that he'll return. You'll need to read the book to see the romantic conclusions.

I found that the characters are not believable.

This is book #2 in the Texas crosswords series. It is a stand alone novel.

Thank you to Revell/Baker Publishing Group for my copy.

The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert

Just like in my dream, I was drowning and nobody even noticed.

Every morning, Carmen Hart pastes on her made-for-TV smile and broadcasts the weather. She’s the Florida panhandle’s favorite meteorologist, married to everyone’s favorite high school football coach. They’re the perfect-looking couple, live in a nice house, and attend church on Sundays. From the outside, she’s a woman who has it all together. But on the inside, Carmen Hart struggles with doubt. She wonders if she made a mistake when she married her husband. She wonders if God is as powerful as she once believed. Sometimes she wonders if He exists at all. After years of secret losses and empty arms, she’s not so sure anymore.

Until Carmen’s sister—seventeen year old runaway, Gracie Fisher—steps in and changes everything. Gracie is caught squatting at a boarded-up motel that belongs to Carmen’s aunt, and their mother is off on another one of her benders, which means Carmen has no other option but to take Gracie in. Is it possible for God to use a broken teenager and an abandoned motel to bring a woman’s faith and marriage back to life? Can two half-sisters make each other whole?

My Review:
We get two stories in one with this novel. There's Gracie's tale. She's a troubled teen who seems determined to keep people at a distance. How will she ever feel included? Then there's her half-sister Carmen, the perfectionist. The only thing missing in Carmen's life is a baby, and goodness knows, she does everything she can to become a mother. However, nothing works. Will her marriage survive this stressful time?

With two such interesting characters leading the way, the novel moves at an interesting pace. I really liked the way the author ends the book. It certainly is different from the way most would expect. I also like the way the author realistically handled the church people.

Details make any narrative come alive. It was fun reading about the restoration of the Treasure Chest. I especially liked the description of the hospitality room with its wall of wisdom.

I recommend this thought-provoking read.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and WaterBrook Press for my copy.

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