Book Review - Under a Summer Sky by Melody Carlson

Book Synopsis
High school art teacher Nicole Anderson is looking forward to a relaxing summer in Savannah, house-sitting and managing an art gallery for a family friend. The house is luxurious in a way that only old money could make it, and the gallery promises interesting days in a gorgeous setting. Yet it isn't long before her ideal summer turns into more than she bargained for: a snooty gallery employee who's determined to force her out, a displaced adolescent roosting in the attic, and two of her childhood friends--who also happen to be brothers--vying for her attention.

With the backdrop of a gorgeous historical city, incredible architecture, and even an alleged ghost or two, combined with the opportunity for romance . . . anything can happen!

Bestselling and award-winning author Melody Carlson invites you to spend the summer surrounded by splendor . . . and tantalizing possibilities.

My Review
Nicole Anderson is teaching art in Seattle when she gets an opportunity to spend a summer in Savannah.  A family friend offers her the chance to housesit for the summer and mind her art gallery while she is on vacation.  Nicole's summer turns out to be very exciting - with interesting work in a beautiful, historic city and with romantic possibilities involving two old friends, who happen to be brothers.

I grew up in a family that was originally from Savannah, and I lived there as a little girl.  I always say that part of my heart will always be in Savannah, and this book made me long to spend time there!  Melody Carlson did a wonderful job capturing the unique charm of this city, with old stories (including a couple of ghost tours), historic houses and architecture, and some of my favorite places like Forsyth Park and The Pirates House restaurant.

Nicole is a very likeable character.  She is a kind person who wants to help others, including a struggling teenage girl who is part of the family she is housesitting for, and a decidedly difficult gallery coworker.  I really liked her relationship with Ryan, which started as an old friendship.

Under a Summer Sky is a sweet, heartwarming novel, and it makes a wonderful summer read.  I recommend it for fans of women's fiction and contemporary romance ... especially in a unique, picturesque setting.  I have not read the previous books in this series, but Under a Summer Sky worked well as a standalone novel.

Author Bio
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's, which is being considered for a TV movie. She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, the Life at Kingston High series, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. She is the winner of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. Melody and her husband live in Oregon.

For more information about Melody visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com. 

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads.

Dear Abby - Videos Abby Likes: A Gardening Dachshund

Dear Friends,

I have a fun video to share with you today!  Are you familiar with Crusoe the Dachshund?  He is a celebrity dachshund who has his own Facebook page and lots of fun videos on his Youtube channel.  

This is a video of Crusoe gardening!  He is very clever and good at digging.  (Dachshunds are exceptionally talented at digging and burrowing -- they were bred to get badgers out of underground holes.)  I enjoyed watching him help garden, and thought you might like this too.



If you have a garden, what do your pets think of it?  Do they ignore the plants or do they try to help (or find fruit or vegetables in the garden)?  I do not have a garden, but I am sure I would be helpful with both digging and gathering some of my favorite foods, like carrots and green beans.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!   I hope you have a great weekend.

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Book Review - The Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels & Other Gentlemen by Victoria Alexander

Book Synopsis
Really, it’s too much to expect any normal man to behave like a staid accountant in order to inherit the fortune he deserves to support the lifestyle of an earl. So when Derek Saunders’s favorite elderly aunt and her ill-conceived—and possibly fraudulent—Lady Travelers Society loses one of their members, what’s a man to do but step up to the challenge? Now he’s escorting the world’s most maddening woman to the world’s most romantic city to find her missing relative.

While India Prendergast only suspects his organization defrauds gullible travelers, she’s certain a man with as scandalous a reputation as Derek Saunders cannot be trusted any farther than the distance around his very broad shoulders. As she struggles not to be distracted by his wicked smile and the allure of Paris, instead of finding a lost lady traveler, India just may lose her head, her luggage and her heart.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

My Review 
The Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels and Other Gentlemen is a historical romance set in Victorian England and Paris.  It tells the story of India Prendergast, a fiercely independent woman who works for a living and values propriety.  When her beloved cousin, who is like a mother to her, goes missing after joining a Lady Travelers society, the nephew of one of the group's founders steps in.  Derek Saunders is handsome and charming, and India assumes he is a scoundrel.  But as they travel to Paris to search for her cousin (accompanied by a charming older couple who chaperone), a slow friendship - and romantic interest - develops between India and Derek.

This was such a fun read! I would call it a romp.  There is a lot of humor and lively dialogue.  I enjoyed the setting, especially the Paris scenes.  Their visit takes place during the Paris Exhibition of 1889, which featured the Eiffel Tower.

I really liked India and Derek and found their scenes together enjoyable.  I liked the way they became friends first and then romantic sparks flew.

The element of mystery -- the whereabouts of India's cousin -- was also well done and added extra interest to the plot.

The little quotes from The Lady Travelers Society Guide added some extra interest as epigraphs for some of the chapters.

This is my first read by Victoria Alexander, but I really enjoyed The Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels and Other Gentlemen and would love to read future books in this series.  I recommend this highly as a lively, engrossing summer read.

Author Bio
New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander was an award winning television reporter until she discovered fiction was much more fun than real life. She turned to writing full time and is still shocked it worked out.

Since the publication of her first book in 1995, she has written thirty-one full length novels and six novellas.

Connect with Victoria

Website | Facebook | Twitter

   

I received a copy of this book from TLC Book Tours.

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Treble at the Jam Fest by Leslie Budewitz

Book Synopsis
Erin Murphy, manager of Murphy’s Mercantile (aka the Merc), is tuning up for Jewel Bay’s annual Jazz Festival. Between keeping the Merc’s shelves stocked with Montana’s tastiest local fare and hosting the festival’s kick-off concert, Erin has her hands full.

Discord erupts when jazz guitarist Gerry Martin is found dead on the rocks above the Jewel River. The one-time international sensation had fallen out of sync with festival organizers, students, and performers. Was his death an accident—or did someone even the score?

Despite the warning signs to not get involved, Erin investigates. And when the killer attacks, she orchestrates her efforts into one last crescendo, hoping to avoid a deadly finale.

Author Bio
Leslie Budewitz is the author of the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries and the Spice Shop Mysteries—and the first author to win Agatha Awards for both fiction and nonfiction. She lives in northwest Montana with her husband, a musician and doctor of natural medicine, and their cat Ruff, a cover model and avid bird-watcher.

Connect with her on her website, http://www.LeslieBudewitz.com, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

Purchase Links
Amazon B&N  kobo

Giveaway
(2) Print Copy Treble at the Jam Fest by Leslie Budewitz
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Dear Abby - Videos Abby Likes: A Very Determined Dachshund

Dear Friends,

It has been a very busy week here, but I wanted to say "hi" and send a fun video for you to enjoy.

I have a sweet little video for you today.  Meet Arvo, a longhair dachshund who wants to take a nap -- along with a teddy bear.  Arvo works hard to get the teddy bear to fit into the kennel.  I love this video!   I think Arvo was very smart and determined.

I am determined like that when it is time for bed.  I go to bed most nights at 10:00 PM and wait for Momma.  Occasionally I will go look for Momma if she is in the study and remind her that it is bedtime.  (She rarely goes to bed that early - but I do try!)



I would love to hear from you in the comments.  If you have pets, have they ever done something surprising because they were very determined?  

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo