Fun Fiction: Secretly Smitten {book review}
Hooray for another great read! I'm pretty sure I've never posted two book reviews in one week and it probably won't happen again, but I put myself on a deadline for this one, and for once I'm following through. Thanks to Booksneeze for providing the review copy. ~~~~~
About the book
Summer, fall, winter, spring—Smitten, Vermont, is the place for love . . . and mystery!
There’s a secret in Grandma Rose’s attic—a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic?
The mystery intrigues Rose’s three granddaughters—Tess, Clare, and Zoe—and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year-old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women?
Join popular romance novelists—and real-life BFFs—Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter for four delightful intertwined tales of mystery and sweet intrigue.
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Earlier this week I posted a review of a book that is speaking truth into my heart, and today I'm going to wholeheartedly recommend something totally different.
Secretly Smitten is a fun, heartwarming collection of interconnected novellas. If you're looking to read a book that plays out like a romantic comedy with several intertwined plotlines (I love those kind of movies), this is a great little piece of reading entertainment.
Each of the four authors tell the tale of one of the ladies in the Thomas family-- each one exposing their own quirks, flaws, strengths and weaknesses. For only having a relatively short time to develop a storyline and its character, each novella portrays its protagonista well, while also giving glimpses into life in Smitten, a Stars Hollow-esque small town.
This was one of those fun escapes from the more educational reading I've been doing lately (parenting, food, spiritual living, etc). The characters' relationships with God are a common thread throughout the book, as are the obvious romances, although I wouldn't toss this into the "cheesy" pile. And despite the predictable aspects of the individual stories, together they weave together a mysterious family secret which connects them in a surprising way.
And married ladies, let's be honest, the passionate hearts described here (in an appropriate way I might add), can't help but put you in the mood for a little quality time with your own man, if you know what I mean. ;)
I looked forward to picking this book up at bedtime each night, when I like to treat myself to a bit of fiction, and was sad to say goodbyes to the characters at the end.
Have you read any fun fiction lately?