Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery

By Jenny Colgan

Audible version

★★★★★

Polly has got her life in perfect order. 

She gets up early every day. And she bakes.

It is what soothes her heart. Bakery is her

life and joy. Well, that and Huckle. 

Her wonderful handsome patient boyfriend. 

They live together in Mount Polbearne.

Polly bought a charming lighthouse to live in. 

 Then, there is Neal. The puffin that doesnt 

really understand he is a puffin. Neal is a 

big part of the community at Mount Polbearne. 

Polly has always felt at home at the bakery.

She made the decisions and choices. Polly was

in charge. She liked it that way. 

It had been that way for so long that Polly had

 really forgotten that she wasnt the owner.

Until the day the owner died. 

Then everything changed. Everything. 

Polly and Huckle have to figure it all out. 

Can they manage it all? They have to take 

care of each other. And Neal. 

Not to mention the lighthouse. 

It almost seems impossible. 

Alison Larkin is the narrator. She is perfect

for the sweet, emotional, community book 

the Jenny Colgan has written.  

I completely enjoyed listening to this story.

I bought my copy from Amazon.

Review by Lisa Hutson

Susan's Review of Healing the Doctor's Heart by Cindy Kirk

Cindy Kirk’s Healing the Doctor’s Heart is an amazing story of second chances.

Set in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the novel features pediatrician Kate McNeal and builder Joel Dennes. Kate McNeal has a secret, a secret that she’s finding very hard to keep. She moved to Jackson Hole two years ago to join a local pediatric practice. She has a small circle of friends, has dated but has not found anyone special. Kate keeps running onto Joel and his nine year old daughter Chloe.

Kate and Joel are attracted to each other. Kate is aware that she and Joel’s late wife Amy are as different as night and day. Kate is painfully shy and she dresses to the nines for self-confidence and always wears high heels. Amy was outgoing and wore conservative clothes. I enjoyed Joel’s struggle with his attraction towards Kate—he adored his late wife. His feelings were raw and filled with emotion and very relatable.

Joel brings Chloe to Kate’s office because she fell and hit her head. Loved that Cindy Kirk was able to portray a mother’s concern from a father’s distress in this chapter. The relationship between the three characters changes as Kate provided some perspective to Chloe’s behaviors and fears. She understands Chloe’s feelings and works to find common ground between father and daughter.

I loved how the relationship between the couple progressed and that Kate’s former boyfriend showed up whenever Joel and Kate got cozy. Joel and Kate’s relationship changes when Chloe is invited for a two week out of town vacation. Loved that they approached “dealing with their attraction” as a business arrangement because both of them were afraid to get hurt.

The no strings arrangement quickly heats up –and I loved reading how both characters came to terms with their feelings. The sexual chemistry between the couple is off the charts. Kate fears her past may come between them. And Joel isn’t quite ready to let go of his feelings for his first wife. I loved the fast paced conclusion of this story-its filled will compassion, forgiveness and love.

If you are looking for a feel good story to read – then this is the book for you! The relationship between Kate, Joel and Chloe will tug at your heartstrings!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the author

Kisses and Scandal by Shana Galen - Part of a Survivors Anthology

Kisses and Scandal

Part of a Survivors Anthology

by Shana Galen

★★★★★

Kisses and Scandal is the newest story in

the latest Shana Galen Anthology. These are

the friends and relatives of the characters in

the Survivors Series. 

Philomena is the daughter of a duke. She is 

quite beautiful. Phil has been hopeful for some 

time now. Hopeful to fall into a love story. She

knows it can happen. She has seen it happen!

But it might be too late for her. She knows her 

duty. Philomena must marry a man of 
substance. Money and status. She knows all that.
But is it too much to ask for a man that 
she can love as well? One who will love her?

James Finnegan is a lowly footman. Of course,
that is not what Lady Philomena sees when she
looks at James. She sees the love of her heart.
Handsome and sweet. James can make her laugh 
at the same time he makes her blood run warm.

Over time, James finds that he feels the same way. 
Unfortunately, during that time, James finds himself
in a spot. While it is a dangerous spot for him, it is 
also set to be a terrible spot for Lady Philomena. 

Can they find a way to keep James safe at the 
same time keeping Philomena safe? Because of 
their enormous differences in stature, they can 
never go any further with their feelings.
Or can they? 

Review by Lisa Hutson