Meet Me at the Starlight by Rachel Hauck Reviewed

 

                                                    

About the book:

Title: Meet Me at the Starlight

Author: Rachel Hauck

1987. Supermodel Harlow Hayes seeks solace in a quaint Florida beach town to heal from a heartbreak that shattered her entire world. To her surprise, she encounters Matt Knight--a Hollywood A-lister with a bad-boy reputation--who has returned to his hometown to help his plucky grandmother, Tuesday, save her century-old skating rink, the Starlight.

The Starlight holds a special place in the hearts of the community, once acting as a refuge for Depression-era families and bringing the town together with gatherings and celebrations. Tuesday's determination even protected her beloved rink from her husband's shady business dealings. Yet when the Starlight is threatened with demolition, Tuesday begins to wonder if an era has come to an end. 

As Matt and Harlow strategize to save the rink, they find themselves on a journey of surprises, self-discovery, and the kind of healing that leads to love.

Goodreads || Amazon || Barnes and Noble

My Thoughts:

This fun story is told over three time periods; the 1930/40's and the 1980's. In the 70's and 80's I practically lived at the roller skating rink. In my mind's eye, I can see my dad dropping me off at 6:30pm and picking me back up at 12:00am every Friday and Saturday night. Spending those hours at the skating rink in my painter's pants, and school t-shirt, and skating to songs like Shadow Dancing, Boogie Oogie Oogie, and Three Times a Lady; I felt like a grown-up for those few hours each week.

Rachel Hauck brings that period back through the pages of this story full-force. While the story centers around the rink it's not the main story. It's about Tuesday Knight, such a cool name, and the prince who set up the Starlight. It's also about a sweet romance between Matt and Harlow. While all of that is fun and wonderful its main story point is not about a shipwrecked prince who created the Starlight and trying to save it, it's about knowing who the real Prince of Peace that we all need. 

Bottom Line: Get ready to go back in time to Friday and Saturday night skate nights and experience that time in your life in a new way. Turn up your radio listen to the music of that time and skate down memory lane. This was the most fun I've had reading in a long time.

About Rachel Hauck

 

New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Rachel Hauck writes from sunny central Florida. A RITA finalist and winner of Romantic Times Inspirational Novel of the Year, and Career Achievement Award, she writes vivid characters dealing with real-life issues. Readers have fallen in love with the quaint and loveable small town of Hearts Bend, TN introduced in the NYT bestselling The Wedding Dress which launched her Wedding Collection novels.

Connect with Rachel on these platforms Facebook || Instagram || Twitter || Website

Top Ten Tuesday - Olympic Themed Books

 
Happy Tuesday and welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday post. I couldn't get into today's topic books I wish I had more or less of. So, I created my own topic . . .books with an Olympic theme. I preface my post by saying that I am not familiar with any of these authors so I can't guarantee that the reading will be clean stories you are used to seeing on my blog. I will say that they all look fascinating. I'm interested in Fast Girls.

I hope you found something fun to read as we watch the 2024 Summer Olympics.

First Line Friday #106

 

Happy Friday!!! Welcome to another edition of First Line Friday. Yay, it's Friday and the Olympics begin tonight!!! I'm excited to see how they will do the Opening Ceremonies on the Seine River.

Today, I am featuring Laura Frantz's new release. Usually, we have to wait until the beginning of the year to get a new Laura Frantz read. Well, not this year! I'm super behind in my reading however, I've already started this! 

About the book:

Title: A Matter of Honor

Author: Laura Frantz

Orin Hume from The Rose and the Thistle comes of age in A Matter of Honor and ventures beyond Scotland's borders, achieving renown all his own, only to return home again to reclaim the life and lady he once loved.

Having grown up at Wedderburn Castle in the serene Scottish Lowlands, Orin Hume is thrust into the dazzling realm of London society and Court circles as Poet Laureate of Britain. But at the height of his fame a former tragedy and his ties to a lass he once loved lead him home to Berwickshire again. When his return is further marred by lost love letters and scheming kin who conspire to keep the pair apart, can Lady Maryn Lockhart, now Duchess of Fordyce, forgive him? Or will the shadows of the past and the complexities of the present rewrite their love story?

Goodreads || Amazon || 

First Line:

Prologue

London, England

1739

In the glittering, beeswax-scented drawing room of Kensington Palace, Orin Hume stood beside a Palladian window. 

Chapter 1

Edinburgh, Scotland

May 1740

A wee smirr of rain struck the tenement's windowpanes at twilight, blurring Orin Hume's view of lamplit Edinburgh.

Makes you want to keep reading, huh? It's available on Kindle Unlimited.

About Laura Frantz

I was born and raised in Kentucky, living first in Ashland, Mammoth Cave, Bowling Green, and then Lexington. But my heart has always been in Berea, Madison County, the place my family has resided since the 18th-century. I came to know Christ there at the age of 12, was baptized, and spent my childhood roaming through the woods and swimming in the rivers of my books.

My earliest memories are of the public library, standing in front of shelves filled with those little biographies of famous historical figures like Daniel Boone and George Washington and Sacajawea. I began scribbling stories at age 7 and thankfully never stopped. My passion then and now is history and all the wonders of past centuries.

I attended college at Denison University in Ohio and also in England, living in a manor/castle and studying the American Revolution from the British perspective. Shakespeare and 18th-century literature form the backbone of my English degree. Strangely enough, I only took one creative writing class.

It was never a desire of mine to be published. I simply love to write for the sheer joy of writing – and that was enough. But as Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

I hope my books bless you.

You can find Laura on these platforms; Website || Facebook || Instagram || Pinterest || Twitter

Please leave me your first lines in the comment section and then make your way to my friend Carrie at Reading is my SuperPower for more first lines. Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Top Ten Tuesday --- Debut Novels I Enjoyed

 

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday, sponsored by That Artsy Reader Girl. If you've hung around here very long you know that debut novels are one of my favorites. Here's just a small selection of my favorites. Most I read as I was just beginning to blog.

Diva NashVegas is Nashville Sweetheart

Do we share any favorite debuts? Let me know in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday My Favorite Books of the Last Ten Years

 

Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday. Today's topic is ten things you like about one book. I couldn't think of a book I could do that with, so I came up with my own. I have a hard time choosing a favorite book each year, but there is something about looking back that makes it easier.

2014 

2015 

2016              

2017          

2018    

2019                  

2020           

2021      

  2022              

2023            

2024  

Are any of my favorites from the last ten years yours? Have you read any of these?

Let me know in the comments!

I hope you have a great Tuesday!!

      

Meeting Her Match (The Matchmakers Book 3) by Jen Turano Reviewed

About the book:

Title: Meeting Her Match

Author: Jen Turano

Series: The Matchmakers

Genre: Christian Historical Romantic Clean Fiction

Publisher: Bethany House; pp 368

Miss Camilla Pierpont, a renowned matchmaker and influential member of the New York Four Hundred, has vowed never to marry after suffering a devastating heartbreak during her debut years ago. However, when she is nearly abducted along the Hudson River, she finds herself rescued by an annoyingly outspoken, albeit fascinating, gentleman who challenges her in a manner she wasn't expecting.After learning that Camilla Pierpont has enjoyed success with taking wayward young ladies in hand, Mr. Owen Chesterfield travels to the Hudson River Valley determined to convince Camilla to sponsor his sister, who is in desperate need of social rehabilitation. Knowing her life is in danger, Camilla agrees to Owen's proposition and travels with him to West Virginia, finding herself charmed by the less-than-formal attitude of his small hometown, as well as by Owen himself. But danger waits in the shadows, disrupting what she knows would be the most spectacular match she's ever made--her own.

Goodreads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Baker House

My Thoughts

This has to be Jen Turano's funniest book to date, and I've read all of her books. I've decided that some of the crazy things she adds in her books are based on something that has happened to her. 

The meet-cute with enemies to more, add in a fake engagement with Jen Turano at the helm, you are guaranteed witty banter, a group of eccentric characters, one pig and a story that will keep you laughing from beginning to end. I loved Owen's family but that poor guy couldn't help from putting his foot in his mouth. 

If you enjoy laughter in your books, kisses that are almost but become kisses, and matchmaking mayhem then you will want to snag this book, and you can today! 

Because it is, RELEASE DAY!!! 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About Jen Turano

A USA Today Best-Selling Author, Jen Turano has written the critically acclaimed Ladies of Distinction series, and A Class of Their Own series, published through Bethany House Publishers. Her novel, After a Fashion, was chosen as a top pick from Romantic Times, as JenTuranowell as being named a top ten romance of 2015 from Booklist.  It is also a nominee for Romantic Times 2015 Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her book, A Most Peculiar Circumstance, was chosen as a top ten romance by Booklist in 2013. Her seventh book, Playing the Part, released in the spring of 2016, and will be followed by a new four-book series, Apart from the Crowd. When she’s not writing, Jen spends her time outside of Denver with her husband and neurotic Cattle Dog, enjoying herself as an empty-nester since her son recently abandoned her for college life. 

Website || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram

Top Ten Tuesday My Favorite Color(s) On Book Covers

 

Happy Tuesday! Welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday! Today the prompt from That Artsy Reader Girl is my favorite color, or colors in my case on a book cover.

My favorite color is pink; but I love pinks, summer blues, and purples on book covers.

The best thing is most of my favorite authors use those colors on their covers!

What is your favorite color(s) to see on book covers? Do we like some of the same colors? Let me know in the comments.

The Summer of Yes, and Meet Me at the Starlight release today.