As You Wish by Robin Jones Gunn

Book 2 of Christy and Todd: The College Years.

Back in the U.S. after a year abroad, Christy is reunited with her friends. When a couple close to her ends their marriage, it causes her to rethink her relationship with Todd. Will life turn out like she wishes?

My Review:
I bought all three books in the Christy and Todd series when I happened upon a sale bin. I read, enjoyed, and reviewed the first, Until Tomorrow. This is the second in the series. It is a book that can be read without having read the first.

I felt that the plot dragged a bit, and I had a hard time relating to the characters. Christy is much more indecisive than I am, so it's difficult to imagine a college-aged girl unable to tell a guy that she loves him. Todd, a patient young man, just seems to understand that all will work out fine. That too, seems odd to me.

Perhaps a younger reader would enjoy this series more than I. There's some good methods for teens to use when following God's direction in life. I'm passing the series along to my granddaughter.

Gardenias for Breakfast by Robin Jones Gunn

A Women of Faith Novel
"Everybody has a story. You listen to that story, Honeygirl, and your story will come find you."

Her Grand Lady spoke these words when Abby was just a girl, spending the summer in rural Louisiana, surrounded by an extended, loving family. She's been listening carefully ever since.

Now Abby is raising her own family thousands of miles away. And even though Hawaii might seem like paradise to some, it's a long way away from those idyllic days she remembers, sitting with her grandmother, learning about the beauty and mystery of life. So Abby has just one wish: that her daughter Hannah might be touched by the beauty of her 92-year-old Grand Lady's stories, before it's too late.

But when Hannah finally does spend time with Grand Lady, the old woman crushes her tender spirit. And a mother-daughter journey home becomes an adventure of discovery-about the importance of family and the healing found in forgiveness. Mothers and daughters may recognize a branch or two from their own family trees and find themselves wishing not only for Grand Lady's guidance but also for Hannah's ability to smell the clouds.

My Review:
What a gem! I thoroughly enjoyed this book about mother/daughter relationships. The author knows how to write; no wonder it's a Women of Faith Fiction Book. I plan to share it with the women in my family.

The plot centers around Abby and her daughter Hannah who travel thousands of miles together from their home in Hawaii to reach the Louisiana, home of the Grand Lady, Abby's much-loved grandmother. They fly to Washington and begin their road trip. As they drive through Washington, Oregon, California, Texas and into Louisiana, they experience a deeper bond and learn about the healing of forgiveness. I enjoyed the descriptions of the places they visited along the way.

I learned a some things about Hawaii reading this novel. Hawaiian "da' kine" means the same as "whatchmacallit" and leis mean more than just "welcome." The "da' kine" that mothers and daughters experience will be enhanced by the reading of this wonderful novel. I admit that I shed some tears at the end. Discussion questions are included.

If you would like to read an excerpt, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click below.

Giveaway! Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

Miranda Carson can't wait to return to England for Christmas and to be with her boyfriend, Ian. She has spent a lifetime yearning for a place to call home, and she's sure Carlton Heath will be it, especially when a hinted-at engagement ring slips into the conversation.

But Miranda's high hopes for a jolly Christmas with the small circle of people she has come to love are toppled when Ian's father is hospitalized and the matriarch of the Whitcombe family withholds her blessing from Miranda. Questions run rampant in Miranda's mind about whether she really belongs in this cheery corner of the world.

Then, when her true identity threatens all her relationships in unanticipated ways, Miranda is certain all is lost. And yet... maybe Father Christmas has special gifts in store for her after all.

My Review:
This Christmas novella is a gem. Written in first-person narrative, this romance novel of love and forgiveness is somewhat predictable but demands a tissue box be nearby. A unexpected parallel is drawn between the story and the nativity. A good Christmas read.

"I believe God, the real Father of Christmas, says to each of us. 'Come in! Know me better.'” Robin Jones Gunn

To buy a copy, click here.
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The folks at Hachette Book Group are allowing me to host this book giveaway for three (3) copies!

Winners are restricted to the US and Canada. No PO Box mailing addresses, please.

I must have a way of contacting you, so be sure to leave your email address in code in your comment (Please do not ask me to look it up!)

I'll close the comments at 6 PM EST December 17th and pick the five winners. I will contact the winners via email to get their mailing information. The winners will have three days to respond. If I do not hear from them within three days, I will select another winner(s).

If you're interested, just say so in a comment with that all-important email address in code.
Example of email in code: you[at]yourmail[dot]com

Sisterchicks in Sombreros, Sisterchicks Series #3 by Robin Jones Gunn

Two Canadian sisters inherit beachfront property in Mexico and take off on an adventure to claim their inheritance. They travel opulently by cruise ship to Ensenada and survive a rocky trip through Baja California, only to be shocked when they arrive in San Felipe. Their beachfront property is, indeed, on the beach, but the "structure" is a cement slab and the Airstream trailer their uncle parked on the property in the early 1960s! With the help of a few locals, the Canadian cuties figure out that they are reconnected as sisters and discover that everything that happened along the way was part of God's plan.


My Review:
This is the perfect chick lit to have on hand when the reader just wants to relax and enjoy a funny story. Two "almost twins"--sisters who were born so close together that folks always asked if they were twins--share a space of time thanks to the gift of a cruise from their wealthy aunt. They move from the luxury of being platinum card members, who receive VIP treatment on a cruise ship, to a Mexican hovel with no electricity or running water, and meet Rosa, who knows the definition of graciousness.

The sisters cannot speak Spanish, and the Mexicans cannot speak English, but they manage. They end up appreciating the good things that they have always had. The trip moves them closer to each other and closer to God. There were a few times in the story that I held my breath, hoping that the story did not stray from its lighthearted track. Not to worry; the author knows how to handle an enjoyable tale.

Never having been on a cruise, I learned a good deal about the luxury of taking a cruise to Mexico. For me, this certainly was a bonus. The characters enjoy their trip and so did I.

Until Tomorrow (Christy and Todd: The College Years #1) by Robin Jones Gunn

Wondering what happens with Todd and Christy after the last page of A Promise Is Forever? Dive in to the College Years and enjoy the romance!

Until Tomorrow begins in Switzerland, where nineteen-year-old Christy Miller lives and studies at an international university. After being on her own for nearly a year, she gets a wonderful treat when her two closest friends--Todd and Katie--come to Europe to visit and travel during summer break.

Each has very different expectations for the trip that threaten to ruin their precious time together. Minute-by-minute, time slips away until they are facing their last moments together. For Christy and Todd, leaving will be especially painful. They said good-bye once but having to say it again may be too much. Their only hope is that they have the kind of love that will last until tomorrow....

My Review:
A trio of college age friends--two girls, one guy--tour Europe, giving the reader glimpses of interesting places to visit in addition to addressing the challenges of morality, following God, and retaining friendships. The title implies that Christy and Todd's love will last until tomorrow--the future--their future together. Ideal read for teens and college ages. Good read for any age.