Book Review: Christmas On Bellevue Lane

Author: Anna DeStefano
Title:  Christmas on Bellevue Lane
Publish Date: Nov 2, 2015
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: 

Can Christmas in July be saved at the Dixon house?

With holiday carols, glittering ornaments and lots of cheer, Marsha and Joe Dixon welcome their new granddaughter to one of their favorite traditions. Marsha’s excited to share memories of her and Joe’s heartwarming love story, to help seven-year-old Camille feel even more a part of the sprawling foster family her grandparents have nurtured for decades.

But Joe’s struggle to recover from his recent heart attack and bypass surgery threatens their fun, and more than just Christmas in July is at stake. If he doesn’t regain his strength and ability to provide financially and emotionally for his family, the Dixon group home might have to close.

With loved ones rallying around and their treasured holiday tradition working its magic, Marsha’s convinced she can talk Joe into embracing the physical therapy he needs.

Will her and the Dixon clan’s Christmas-in-July wish come true?

Review: If you've read any of the Echoes of the Heart novels, you have to pick up the novella, Christmas on Bellevue Lane.

Through a family tradition of having Christmas in July, we get to learn the backstory and love story of Marsha and Joe Dixon the two fabulous foster parents that figure heavily in both of the past novels.

This is a quick read that you'll want to be longer, because Marsha and Joe are such fabulous characters and you really want more time spent on them and their relationship, but it was great to see how they got together and how they chose to foster children.

I would recommend having some tissues ready when reading this, because Marsha and Joe's struggles are heartbreaking at times. Joe is exceptionally pigheaded, especially with regards to his health. There were times when you wanted to give him a good smack upside the head.

This novella is part of a series and can be read as a stand alone story, but I'd recommend reading at least one of the full length books so that you have a better idea of who is who.

Highly recommended!


Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Let Me Love You Again

Author: Anna DeStefano
Title: Let Me Love You Again
Publisher: Montlake
Publish Date: April 28, 2014
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: 

An endearing series about love, family, and the magic of small-town life. Selena Rosenthal left behind her high school sweetheart, who was the love of her life, seven years ago.

Now, she and the once-rebellious Oliver Bowman are back in Chandlerville—after his foster father’s heart attack and Selena’s contentious divorce—to deal with her secrets, the recklessness that caused their breakup, and the almost-strangers they’ve become to each other and their families.

As soon as his father is stronger, Oliver must return to the successful career that helps support a new generation of foster kids. But he’s falling for Selena again, her daughter has a hold on his heart, and he can’t imagine leaving behind his brothers and sisters once again.

More attached by the day to their charming hometown and families, Selena and Oliver fall in love for the second time.

Has fate brought Chandlerville’s prodigal children together again…this time forever?

Review: Let Me Love You Again is a beautiful tale of second chances. It is book 2 in the Echoes of the Heart series, by the fabulous Anna DeStefano.

I thought Here In My Heart was wonderful, but Let Me Love You is even better.

What really drew me to this book was the fact that Oliver and Selena are far from perfect. Both are recovering addicts, but they have pulled their lives together. Oliver is doing is best to take care of the foster parents who made him who he is and Selena is doing her best to be a good mother to Camille.

These two were an item, but their teenage problems pulled them apart.

The struggles that these two have are very real. I have to admit to loving that Oliver really wants to be part of Selena's life, probably more than Selena is ready to have him in hers.

There's more to this story than just the rekindling of a romance. The big picture really focuses on the importance of family. Selena is coming to accept her mother, who she had a strained relationship with, as well as Oliver's family, The Dixons.

If you don't love the good hearted foster mom and dad, Marsha and Joe, there is something wrong with your heart. There is one scene with Marsha and Belinda (Selena's mom) that will tug and your heartstrings.

It was really wonderful to see the two families come together.

If you are a fan of family romance, this is definitely the book or series for you. I can't wait to see whose story is next.

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Here In My Heart

Author: Anna DeStefano
Title: Here In My Heart
Publisher: Montlake
Publish Date: Sept 30, 2014
Buy:  Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: The author
Book Blurb: Live and work together, or lose everything that matters…

The ultimatum tilts Dru Hampton’s contented life in Chandlerville, Georgia, on its ear. The man that Vivian, her cantankerous boss and benefactor, wants Dru to partner with—live with—is Brad Douglas, who’s let Dru down every way a man can.

Sheriff’s deputy Brad Douglas has come a long way since his rebellious youth. He’s back home to care for Vivian, his ill grandmother. He’s stayed out of Dru’s way all these years to make up for the hurt he once caused her. Now, the delightfully mischievous Vivian’s dying wish is for them to rebuild at least a working relationship together…and she’s betting on them rediscovering much more.

The family business and the Douglas home that Dru and Brad both cherish will be sold if they don’t resolve their differences. Can these childhood sweethearts make up and reclaim each other’s hearts before it’s too late?

Review: This is a sweet romance that will tug at your heartstrings at every turn. I'm not usually a real fan of second chance stories, when someone has pined after someone for years, in this case seven. All these teenage angsty crushes show up a bit much, but with Anna DeStefano's novella, you have two characters you really can't help but root for.

Brad is really a perfect guy, and as the story progresses, it is hard to imagine anyone hating him for any reason. He's a bad boy turned good, and he's precious and smart and what most gals want in a hero. Dru is feisty and doesn't want to trust Brad after something he did 7 years ago.

This two are at each other's throats but are forced together by the real star of the book, Brad's grandmother, Vivian, who is now on hospice, and has one last wish she wants them to fulfill. I loved Vivian. So feisty and so wonderful. You know she's going to die, but that doesn't stop you from crying when it happens, especially as there was someone that loved her but didn't let her know until it was too later.

The other star of the book is Lisa, one of the Dixon's foster children. She has ADHD and is always ending up in some form of trouble. I loved her. I just wanted to hear someone tell her that they loved her to make her feel like she wasn't going to be cast aside from yet another foster family.

There were so may wonderful characters in this short book, and all of them well developed. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Rating: 4 flowers