Book Review – Bluestone & Vine

08 Thursday Nov 2018

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Blue Hollow Falls series, Bluestone & Vine, Book Review, Donna Kauffman

Bluestone & Vine

by Donna Kauffman

Pippa MacMillan is a legend on the Irish folk music scene. But when her voice requires a time-out, she’s left wondering how—and where—to find happiness in the silence . . .

Seeking answers, Pippa leaves Ireland in favor of a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Turns out lovely Blue Hollow Falls is the perfect place to heal—and solitary Seth Brogan is the surprisingly perfect host. After all, Seth is beginning again too: turning his renovated stone barn and beautiful hillside into a vineyard is the start of a whole new life for the former Special Forces soldier. Only Mother Nature keeps thwarting both their plans, leaving Pippa snowbound with unsettling thoughts about how life can take unexpected turns . . .

To Pippa’s surprise, she might actually fall for small-town living. She might even fall for Seth, whose quiet strength is a balm for her world-weary soul. But when the music starts once more, will she follow her fortune back to Ireland, or surrender to the call of her heart?

I love the way that Kauffman develops her characters and her stories. These people felt real and their situations were believable & didn’t involve a ton of turmoil. Instead we have two people who meet, fall for each other (but resist because of circumstances), and then have to figure out what life has in store for them when their hearts become too involved.

Pippa is a delight. She’s strong, beautiful, and has a love of life that is just so addictive. Her trip to Blue Hollow Falls is about facing her fears over her voice, which she has to face if she’s going to return to a career she loves so very much. What she didn’t count on is finding a whole town of people to capture her heart, especially Seth.

Seth also has a plan for his life that didn’t include falling in love but Pippa is pretty darn hard to resist. The man is kind, caring, and yet such a man 🙂 Watching him resist and then finally give in is just so much fun.

The secondary characters and their relationships with each other is just as important as the main romance. This is a group that loves and supports each other, and it just warms my heart. Part of that is the glimpse we got of our likely next hero – Will, with his immense love for his son but also his overwhelming grief for his late wife. Kauffman is probably going to rip my heart to shreds before it is over but she’s going to make me love every minute of it!

Book Review – Blue Hollow Falls

31 Monday Jul 2017

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Blue Hollow Falls

Blue Hollow Falls #1

by Donna Kauffman

From her free-spirited mother, Sunny Goodwin learned the value of peace, love, and Jerry Garcia. The inheritance from the father she never knew? That’s a little more complicated…

Sunny never expected to find herself owning a centuries old silk mill in the shadow of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains . . . or becoming a half-sister to a ten-year-old named Bailey. Once the shock subsides, she plans to cash in and head back home. But the overgrown greenhouse she finds on the property calls out to the gardener in her, and she senses Bailey’s need for nurturing too…

And someone else is making it hard for Sunny to leave: Sawyer Hartwell, an Iraq War hero who wants to make the old mill a creative hub for the artisans of Blue Hollow Falls . . . and wants Sunny to share his vision, and his life. But sexy as this ex-soldier may be, she’s not sure she’s ready to give love a chance…

Kauffman’s newest is just as much women’s fiction as it is romance, which works so-very-well. While Sunny and Sawyer dance around their attraction, there is an entire group of adorable characters who are finding their way in a new family dynamic.

Shortly after losing her mother and finding herself pretty much alone in the world, Sunny discovers that she actually has a family and inherited a share of an old silk mill. She’s spent most of her life being a care-giver to her mother and now she’s finally (and guiltily) exploring her freedom. With the addition of siblings and assorted non-blood family, though, she’s got to decide whether she’s ready to get involved again.

Sawyer may find himself drawn to Sunny but she’s dealing with so much and her life is a few hours away. Getting involved can only lead to complications … but he’s finding her hard to resist.

As appealing as these two are, though, it’s the secondary characters that tend to steal the show. I love seeing Bailey, Sunny’s half-sister, reveal her too cute middle-aged woman in a little girl’s body personality. And it’s obvious that both Sawyer’s and Sunny’s delightful best friends are due for their own story (not sure yet if it is together or separate).

As the start of a new series there is a good amount of description and quite a few characters introduced, which may be a bit much for some. But those who enjoy stories with small-town romances and family-dynamics will appreciate the world that Kauffman creates and look forward to what comes next.

Book Review – Snowflake Bay

04 Friday Dec 2015

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Book Review, Donna Kauffman, Snowflake Bay, The Brides of Blueberry Cover series

I love this time of year because of all of the fantastic Christmas romances!

*****

Snowflake Bay

The Brides of Blueberry Cove #2

by Donna Kauffman

Releasing September 29, 2015

Zebra

Blurb:

There’s no place like seaside Blueberry Cove, Maine, at Christmas—and there’s nothing like a wedding, the warmth of the holidays, and an old crush, to create the perfect new start…

Interior designer Fiona McCrae has left fast-paced Manhattan to move back home to peaceful Blueberry Cove. But she’s barely arrived before she’s hooked into planning her big sister Hannah’s Christmas wedding—in less than seven weeks. The last thing she needs is for her first love, Ben Campbell, to return to neighboring Snowflake Bay…

As kids, Fiona was the bratty little sister Ben mercilessly teased—while pining after Hannah. But Fi never once thought of Ben like a brother. And that hasn’t changed. Except Fi is all grown up. Will Ben notice her now? More importantly, with her life in a jumble, should he? Or might the romance of the occasion, the spirit of the season, and the gifts of time ignite a long-held flame for many Christmases to come…

Something old might just become something new…

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23360012-snowflake-bay

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/137224-the-brides-of-blueberry-cove

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

Feeling somewhat better about herself now, she disentangled herself from the satchel strap, then began mentally rehearsing a summer-weddings-areso- beautiful speech while she looked around for something to scrape the wool scarf out of her mouth. Deciding to get herself unwrapped first, she fished out the end of the scarf, already feeling her fair skin chapping even as she stood there, the warmth of the kitchen creating something of a sting in her thawing cheeks. The struggle with the scarf started almost immediately. It was as if her curls had begun actively weaving themselves into the knitting, becoming one with every loop and knot.

So, she was more wrestling with the scarf than unwrapping it, really, swearing somewhat creatively, possibly a wee bit passionately even, by the time a deep male voice that was quite decidedly not her big brother’s baritone spoke from far too close behind her.

“I’ve got bolt cutters in my truck. We could just cut you out.”

Fiona froze. Stock-still. And not because of anything having to do with the coastal winter weather or being out of shape. She wasn’t breathing hard. In fact, she might never draw breath again. It had been, what, ten years? Longer. She’d lost track.Or, more truthfully, you’ve blocked it from your memory banks. Blocked it back when the owner of that voice had left Blueberry Cove for college in Boston, excited to get started on fulfilling his dreams—none of which included coming back to his hometown. At the time, blocking her memory files had seemed the only way she’d ever survive not having him in her daily orbit ever again.

She felt his big, broad palms cup her shoulders, turning her slowly around to face him, and stupidly squeezed her eyes shut, as if that would change this sudden new reality. All it did was delay the inevitable.

“Fireplug?” he said, as the top half of her face became visible when he pushed the curls from her forehead and the scarf from where it was now haphazardly draped diagonally across her face. There was sincere surprise in his voice. “Is that you inside all that sheep’s clothing?”

Fireplug. All of the air came back into her lungs in one big, sucking gasp. Emphasis on the sucking. Her cheeks burned again, only the sting of remembered humiliation coupled with the memories of her pathetic, unrequited crush on her brother’s best friend, who’d only had eyes for Hannah, far—far—outstripped anything a Maine winter could do to her fair skin.

They were both many years older now, she reminded herself, and that meant wiser as well. Although she didn’t feel wiser at the moment. At the moment, she felt instantly thirteen again, pining after a guy who’d barely noticed her, and when he had, had seen her as nothing more than the nuisance kid sister of the girl he was trying to impress.

Of course, that girl was now engaged to another man, and for all Fiona knew, her childhood crush was married himself, with a bundle of kids stashed somewhere. Hell, for all he knew, so was she. Which meant, yeah … the distant past was just that. Distant. And past.

She prided herself on taking an extra moment to steady herself and let her breath ease out, then slowly back in again, before opening her eyes. Okay, so she was still half-tangled in a woolen neck scarf and she wasn’t exactly making eye contact with him, but it was a start. A mature, grown-up start. Between two, mature, grown-up people.

So why is your heart racing like it’s the first time a man has ever touched you? More to the point, why are all your other more mature body parts clamoring for him to touch a whole lot more than your shoulders? You’re both potentially married with kids, remember?

Only she wasn’t married. Didn’t have kids. Not even the dimmest of prospects of either on the horizon. A horizon that, at the moment, was completely consumed with a big, tall, rugged reminder of all that she didn’t have. Had never had. A reminder, it should be noted, who still had his hands on her.

All her line of vision allowed, however—now that he’d turned her around so her back was to him, tipping her head forward to allow him to work her hair free from the scarf—was the Michelin Man-style, double-padded red snow coat she’d buttoned around her short, curvy frame, under which was a layer of thick hoodie, a long-sleeved turtleneck, and a T-shirt. She surprised herself by letting out a muffled snort. “Well, if the nickname still fits,” she murmured, proud of herself for embracing the humor in the moment, only to discover a split second later she was blinking back stupid tears.

Maybe no matter how much a person grew up, no matter how much she matured, she thought, mortified all over again, there would always be a part of her who was still that same, invisible thirteen-year-old girl.

*****

Author Info:

USA Today bestselling author of the Cupcake Club Romance series, Donna Kauffman has seen her books reviewed in venues ranging from Kirkus Reviews and Library Journal to Entertainment Weekly and Cosmopolitan. She lives just outside of DC in the lovely Virginia countryside, where she is presently trying to makeover her newly empty nest into something that doesn’t have to accommodate piles of sports equipment falling out of her coat closet (okay, out of every closet…and under every bed….), size 13 cleats and sweaty uniforms cluttering her foyer (and stairwell, and laundry room, and…), and a kitchen that should have come with a traffic light. And a pantry monitor. (Anyone with a clever idea on how to repurpose lacrosse sticks into matching reading lamps, she’s all ears!) When she’s not stripping paint, varnishing an old auction house find, or trying to avoid bodily injury with her latest power tool purchase, she loves to hear from readers!

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Review:

I loved Fiona and Ben together – the ending was great, as is their shared past (full of unrequited love, embarrassment and affection). I did I feel JUST a little like I was cheated out of their romance, since a lot of their courtship happened in texts and phone calls that we didn’t get to be a part of. But it is a family piece as well, so there are those interactions, as well as Ben’s decision on what to do with the farm and the two of them getting to the point of deciding what to do with their attraction. There are a lot of important things going on, but a part of me wishes they hadn’t spent so much time with other people and more time together being cute and falling in love 🙂 Because when they were together it was fan-freakin-tastic. I definitely think it is a good read, as long as you go into it knowing there is a lot more happening than just Fiona and Ben’s love story.

*****

Giveaway:

a print copy of SNOWFLAKE BAY

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8850/

*****

Click on the banner below to check out the rest of the tour

Honey Pie

03 Wednesday Jul 2013

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Book Review, Cupcake Club, Donna Kauffman, Honey Pie

Donna Kauffman’s “Cupcake Club” books are as sweet and addictive as the goodies the group bakes. In her newest, Honey Pie, Honey D’Amourvell has come to Sugarberry Island to set up shop in the building she inherited from her aunt. It’s the perfect opportunity for her to start a new life . . . only she finds the space already being used, leased to the much-loved owner of Babycakes, and she has no idea what she is going to do. With the help of the Cupcake Club, and massively sexy mechanic Dylan Ross, will Honey find a place to call home after all?

I absolutely could not put this book down. I loved Dylan and Honey – they are both, for different reasons, loners. Dylan had a very difficult childhood, one that was very much the topic of gossip, so he prefers to live a very quiet, solitary life on the fringes of society. He keeps to himself and lives a decent life, helping where he can but hoping mostly to be left in peace. Honey has what her aunt called a gift but which she sees as a curse – when she touches someone she sometimes sees things that have happen or will happen in that person’s life, most often traumatic and extremely emotional things. So she avoids people to try to keep from getting these visions, but that has left her very lonely and she is hoping that she can change that on Sugarberry. When Dylan, a natural fixer, finds out about Honey’s troubles he wants nothing more than to help, putting the two on a course that will change their lives forever.

One of the best things about this series is that each book can stand on its own. Returning readers will love the chance to catch up with everyone while first time readers will enjoy Honey Pie just as much. Kauffman does a fantastic job of bringing to life people that you would love to call friends and her world is so richly crafted that I want to jump on a plane to go for a visit. The characters are charming and quirky but so loving and accepting. One of them states that living on the island is like living in a giant group hug and that extends to the reader as well. I always feel right at home as soon as I read the first word in a “Cupcake Club” story.

Honey Pie is a feel-good, sigh-worthy, laugh-out-loud, gooey confection of a romance that will make your summer that much sweeter.

Born to Be Wild

28 Wednesday Nov 2012

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Book Review, Born to Be Wild, Donna Kauffman, The Three Musketeers

Born to Be Wild is the second in Donna Kauffman’s The Three Musketeers series. Dara Colbourne spent her childhood trying to be included in the close friendship shared by Zach, Jarrett and her twin brother, Dane. All she got for her trouble was merciless teasing by Zach. Now, all grown up, Dara works for a foundation that grants wishes to seriously and terminally ill children. She hasn’t seen Zach in years, but now he’s been picked by a donor to head up a camping trip for some of her kids. Zach runs an adventure business, taking thrill-seekers to extreme locations – like skiing down an active volcano or swimming with sharks. Dara doesn’t think that he’s the right person for the job but Zach won’t let it go and gets her to agree to a trial run. If she finds his plan acceptable, she will ask the foundation board to approve him for the trip. But spending time together might show them both that the teasing from their childhood has grown into something much more adult.

I have to be honest – I had to read this story twice. The first time I only made it about half way before I put it down to read something else. And I can’t pinpoint exactly why. The writing is great, the characters are interesting, and the plot-line is intriguing. I think maybe I just couldn’t personally connect with the conflict in the story. Dara’s history means she has issues with the way Zach makes a living – her dad died in a small plane crash when she was in her teens and she lost her fiancé to a surfing accident while in college. She’s afraid of losing someone else in her life because of their need for an adrenaline rush. Even though Zach works very hard to minimize any risks involved on his trips, it doesn’t make it any easier for Dara. Zach loves what he does but he can understand why Dara might have trouble with the dangers involved. Once they finally give in to each other the pages fairly sizzle and the ending was wonderful. I’m happy that I finished the book – it was satisfying and the story is handled delightfully.

Born To Be Wild is a story about reconnecting with your past and with yourself. Dara & Zach’s journey is fulfilling and, if you have the same problem I did, just keep reading. It is worth your time.

***Although this is the second story in a series it can stand alone. The characters do make appearances in each of the stories, but not in any way that would be confusing. Please keep in mind that this is a reprint and the original was published in 1995 so there is some outdated technology. Overall though, the story does not show its age. I also reviewed the first story in the series, Surrender the Dark. For that review, please visit here. ***

Babycakes

23 Friday Nov 2012

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Babycakes, Book Review, Cupcake Club, Donna Kauffman

Babycakes, the third book in Donna Kauffman’s Cupcake Club series, is a treat – full of warmth, humor and tenderness. Kit Bellamy lost everything when her greedy brother-in-law sold the family’s pie company. Mamie Sue’s Peanut Pies was created by her great-grandmother and had been run by the women in her family for generations. Now lost on what to do with her life, Kit takes a job working for Lani Dunne’s cupcakery in the small town of Sugarberry Island. Morgan Westlake has become guardian to his brother’s orphaned niece and moves with her to the island so she can be close to both of her grandmothers. There’s a definite spark between Kit and Morgan, but can she ever overlook the fact that his family’s law firm is the one that helped take her company away from her?

With this series, Kauffman has created a wonderful world that will make you plan a visit to the Georgia coast. The inhabitants of Sugarberry Island are always fantastic – caring, quirky, funny. . . they will tug at your heart, when they aren’t tickling your funny bone.

Morgan and Kit are great together. She has her hang-ups about his family but they are resolved in a satisfying manner. He, of course, is perfect – giving, sexy, intelligent, charming …. you name it. His dedication to his niece, Lilly, is compelling and Lilly herself is delightful. Watching the three of them find their way in their new lives and with each other is endearing, making this a not to be missed, feel-good read.

***Although it is part of a series, Babycakes can be read on it’s own. I’ve only read the first book, Sugar Rush, but I enjoyed it and was looking forward to this book. And I definitely plan to pick up Sweet Stuff as soon as possible.***

The Three Musketeers: Surrender the Dark

25 Thursday Oct 2012

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Jarrett McCullough heads an independent consulting company that works with the government to deliver sensitive information into the most dangerous areas of the world. His latest case has gone drastically wrong and he finds himself wounded on the doorstep of the last person he wants to see. Two years ago Rae Gannon’s last job for Jarrett ended badly and she retreated to a remote mountain cabin. Finding her ex-boss on her doorstep brings back horrible memories of that time, as well as a new awareness of him as a man and the danger of the past she thought she’d left behind.

Surrender the Dark is an emotionally charged books about two people coming terms with the decisions they’ve made and the people they’ve become. The secret, life-and-death nature of their jobs have left Jarrett and Rae emotionally distant, suspicious and wary. Kauffman does an excellent job of providing details into their thoughts and feelings, creating believable characters with moving issues that readers will understand. Their growth throughout the story is well-developed and touching, mixed with intimate scenes that are hot enough to sizzle the page.

Jarrett’s case is an underlying theme, creating conflict between them, but the related action does not make an appearance until the last couple of chapters. You’ll be disappointed if you go into it expecting a lot of intrigue, but it is a story centered on the people, not the case, and in this it definitely delivers.

This is the first in Donna Kauffman’s The Three Musketeers series and one of Loveswept’s Classic Romances. Almost all of the story includes only the two so there isn’t really a secondary cast, although Jarrett’s friends (the other two musketeers) make an appearance toward the end and have their own follow-up books. Originally published in the mid-90s, the story holds up exceptionally well with only a minor instance with technology showing its age. The anchor is the personal side of Jarrett and Rae, an emotional journey that is not dictated by when the book was written.