Steeple Hill Cafe

I was in the mood for some lite, inspiring reading.  I thought the character of Josey was very believable.  The things she went through were so enjoyable to read about.  The ending of the book did surprise me.  I have come to find that I can depend on this author to deliver wonderful books to read.

It all starts when Gracie Lee finds the less than moral contractor working on her apartment remodel dead in the port-o-pottie.  It spirals out of control from there.  First her son is accused of the murder.  It leads someplace you don't expect and the author never lets on shes going.  Its a good read it felt a little slow to me and hard to get into but once I got into it got better. 

Josey is such an engaging character. She is blunt, funny and tells it like it is. She is unapologetic when it comes to her reasoning, and when she turns to her faith, she generally tries to make sense of things bothering her. Most of all, she is realistic when it comes to all the situations life throws at her.

Essie Walker, new mom, loving wife, etc., is not thrilled when her brother Mark-o, pastor of their community church, strong-arms her into taking on the second-grade boys' Sunday school class.  It's bad enough to have moved from New Jersey to the Bay Area of California for her seemingly never there husband's job in IT without having to take on "the Doom Room."  The baby is teething, the ladies of the church all seem so perfect, and Essie is about to lose her mind!  After all, the boys of the Doom Room earned that nickname...  Can a suburban housewife who wants nothing more than to go back to work as a coach for women's track and field find happiness caring for a baby, two parents who suddenly seem to need more than their fair share of assistance, and interacting with the "perfect" mothers of the "perfect" little boys in her class?  Chances are that you'll laugh yourself silly reading this, the way I did!

This book about a SAHM online mommy group is hilarious and covers all types of SAHMs and their daily struggles.  The entire book is done in email format making for a nice change of pace from standard books.  It's definitely a must read if you have ever had kids or just know some children.

I cried at the end of this book. Of course you know that as a Harlequin, there's a happy ending so I'm not telling you anything you didn't know...but this book is a faith story and those aren't always the easiest to read.

You know how some people have a higher calling to be a pastor, priest, missionary, etc? Well, Maggie Black feels that God has called her to open a coffeehouse in Seattle - as if the city needs another one. But ‘Higher Grounds' will be a Christian coffeehouse...a place where people can fellowship and relax over their favourite java. Just one little problem holding her back...financing.

Loans Officer, William Gray III is the stuffy Brit who denied Maggie's loan application. He's a tea drinker - can't stand coffee - and thinks Maggie needs to take a small-business course before his bank will reconsider loaning her any money. Especially to a business as risky as another coffee venue.

@Home for the Holidays by Meredith Efken~ Steeple Hill Cafe
Ratings:
Excellence: Excellent
Steaminess Factor: Friends to Affectionate

It’s Raining Men: 

Tom Huckleberry:  He’s the man the most involved in the story.  I would say he suits his wife who is also one of the major characters in the book.  Would maybe suit me.  Who would play him if I were to cast this role:  I would like to choose someone who is a little boyish, with curly hair.  Someone resembling Tom Hanks, maybe.  There were many other men in this story but this is the one that stands out.

Elise Penny wanted a glamorous life, filled with beauty pageants, fancy houses, fast cars, and city lights.  So what did she do?  She fell in love with Sam, a handsome farmer, and that was, well, that.  Or was it?  When their daughter secretly enters her in the Mrs. Proverbs 31 Pageant, Ellie soon discovers that a person should be careful what she wishes for! 

SAHM I Am by Meredith Efken ~ SH Café

Ratings: 

Excellence: Excellent

Steaminess Factor:  Affectionate

Mini Challenge – New to me (1): 

The author is New to Me.  I chose this book because it’s been in my TBR for a long time and the back blurb sounded interesting.  I loved it.  I read this book in one day!  There were no boring pages.  I always needed to know what was coming next!