Friday, March 20, 2020

Dear Abby - A Note to My Friends


Dear Friends,

The other night when I was on Facebook with my Momma I saw a phrase:  "What a year this week has been."  A lot has happened in the world this past week.  I am a little dog and I don't understand it all, but I know it is very serious, and it means that my Momma is spending extra time at home with me.  (This is the silver lining of the situation, if you ask me!)

I just wanted to send a note to my friends and let you know that I appreciate you all and am sending love and care.  Please be safe and stay well!

I am trying to think of one nice thing a day.  This helps.  Today my thought is this:  I am grateful that I have a soft, comfortable place here.


What are you grateful for today?  

Take care, and I look forward to talking more soon!

Love,
Abby xoxoxo


Book Review - The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson

My Review
The Happy Camper tells the story of Dillon Michaels.  Dillon leaves her dead end job and commitment-phobic boyfriend in Colorado. She heads home to Oregon, where her grandfather and estranged mother live on the family farm. After a few nights sleeping on the old sofa, Dillon's grandfather gives her a vintage camper.  This novel tells the story of how Dillon's life changes as she restores the camper into a little tiny home.  Along the way she grows closer to her family, works on the farm, teaches swim classes, and even finds a new romance.

I wanted to read this novel because I love vintage campers. I even have a Pinterest board about them! The camper in this book is a 1964 Oasis Aloha and I spent way too much time looking up photos, descriptions, specifications, and old brochures of this model.  I absolutely loved the vintage camper details in this book.  The author meticulously describes the process of restoring and decorating an old camper.  It was a lot of fun to read about!

Dillon is a very likable character.  She is warm, kind, and caring, a hard worker with a strong independent streak.  I enjoyed reading about her growth as a person.  By finding that she loves restoring campers, she also finds herself.

Jordan Atwood, who owns the small town hardware store, makes a fine book boyfriend.  He is a genuinely decent, good guy -- and to Dillon's delight he also is a vintage camper fan.  I loved the slow building romance between Dillon and Jordan, even as they dealt with the unwanted complication of her persistent old boyfriend.

The Happy Camper is a fun, upbeat read - perfect for a leisurely weekend.  It would also make a great beach read!  I recommend it for fans of women's fiction, sweet romance - and of course, vintage campers!


Book Synopsis
Home is the place to heal . . . right?

At least, that's what Dillon Michaels is hoping as she leaves her disappointing career and nonstarter love life behind to help her grieving and aging grandfather on his small Oregon farm. The only problem? Her eccentric mother beat her there and has taken over Dillon's old room. After a few nights of sleeping on a sagging sofa, Dillon is ready to give up, until she receives an unlikely gift--her grandfather's run-down vintage camp trailer, which she quickly resolves to restore with the help of Jordan Atwood, the handsome owner of the local hardware store.

But just when things are finally beginning to run smoothly, Dillon's noncommittal ex-boyfriend shows up with roses . . . and a ring.


Author Bio
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over 200 books with sales of more than 7 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.