Book Review: Wedding At The Lakeside Resort

Author: Susan Schild
Title: Wedding At The Lakeside Resort
Publish Date:  June 2020
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: When it comes to love, forty-four year old Jenny Beckett's track record isn't great, but she's finally found Luke Hammond, a kind, down to earth man who adores her. And she's marrying him!

But Jenny has no time to moon about the big day. With the Lakeside Resort's busiest season fast approaching, she's busily preparing for guests coming to stay in her tiny cabins and vintage campers.

When Luke is called away on business, Jenny must single-handedly manage the resort, oversee construction of their new cabin, and plan the wedding. But she's also dealing with more troubling events. A late-night trespasser is destructive, and a developer is intent on building condominiums right next door. Jenny and Luke must scramble to protect the serenity and beauty of their beloved resort.

With love over 40 blooming all around, a plus-sized heroine, and relatable characters, come join your friends for a June wedding and stay awhile at the Lakeside Resort.

Review: Jenny and Luke are about to get married! But not without a few bumps in the road. Not bad bumps just life bumps.

Luke's company is putting pressure on him even as he's trying to become a silent partner. There's someone driving crazily around the resorts roads at night and a developer might be interested in the property next door.

All this is going on while there is a wedding to be planned.

I love the story, and I really enjoy the fact that Jenny is in her 40s. Its nice to see heroines that aren't just fresh from college. That said, in this book, Jenny and her friends seem much older than they are. Jenny is 44 and she comes across like she's 64. Also, a first lady of a small town? Where is this real? I can see it if we are talking about a mayor's wife from a big city but a small town.

There is a lot going on in this story, but the pacing is good and the characters are wonderful. If you have followed the series, and you should, they feel like old friends. I highly recommend this series be read in order, not because they can't be, but because in this series, continuity is a good thing.

There's so much to enjoy in the story, picking the wedding gown, THE CAKE! Oh and the little squabble between Jenny's mom and her new hubby.

There are lots of good times here. I can't wait to see how Jenny and Luke's honeymoon goes.

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Sweet Southern Hearts

Author: Susan Schild
Publisher: Kensington
Publish Date: Jan 10, 2017
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: Susan Schild welcomes you back to the offbeat Southern town of Willow Hill, North Carolina, for a humorous, heartwarming story of new beginnings, do-overs, and self-discovery…

When it comes to marriage, third time’s the charm for Linny Taylor. She’s thrilled to be on her honeymoon with Jack Avery, Willow Hill’s handsome veterinarian. But just like the hair-raising white water rafting trip Jack persuades her to take, newlywed life has plenty of dips and bumps.

Jack’s twelve-year-old son is resisting all Linny’s efforts to be the perfect stepmother, while her own mother, Dottie, begs her to tag along on the first week of a free-wheeling RV adventure. Who knew women “of a certain age” could drum up so much trouble? No sooner is Linny sighing with relief at being back home than she’s helping her frazzled sister with a new baby…and dealing with an unexpected legacy from her late ex. Life is fuller—and richer—than she ever imagined, but if there’s one thing Linny’s learned by now, it’s that there’s always room for another sweet surprise…

“This charming and well observed novel about finding the courage to love after loss will make you smile as well as cry more than a few happy tears. Be prepared for a story of true tenderness, humor, and sometimes nail biting tension. Sweet Southern Hearts delivers all this and more.” --Holly Chamberlin, author of Summer with my Sisters

Review: Sweet Southern Hearts follows Linny Taylor and her new husband, Jack as they are on their honeymoon and the first few months of marriage. This is the third Willow Hill book.  While it is a stand alone novel, you'll enjoy it more if you've read Linny's Sweet Dream List and Sweet Carolina Morning.

There are a lot of misadventures for Linny as the story progresses. All the character's you've come to know in the past two books are here and they are still causing trouble Jack's ex-wife Vera is still leaning to heavily on Jack as her current marriage crumbles. Neal is still a brat that you both love and want to shake some sense into. Linny's mother is still a bit nutty.

Vera interrupts their honeymoon and Linny and Neal take in Neal full time, while Vera and Chaz try to work things out. The fun comes when Linny joins on and RV tour of the country, with stops in Dollywood and Nashville, while Jack and Neal are in Tuscon.

There's some drama on the trip as the ladies try to find a man for Rose and the RV is broken into.

Totally nuts, but fun.

When Linny arrives home, there's even more going on. Neal becomes more bratty and a baby is left on her doorstep.

Can we get any more dramatic?

I love the humor in this series and the fact that Linny just tries too hard to be a good wife and step mother. Carol Brady is obviously her idol.  There are times when you want to give her a good shaking to remind her to stand up for herself. There are also times when you want to knock some sense into Jack, because he has a hard time telling his ex to get on with her life. Most women would have probably walked out on him.

This book was really a sweet addition to the series. I hope it continues, especially with the ending of this one.

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Sweet Carolina Morning

Author: Susan Schild
Title: Sweet Carolina Morning
Publisher: Kensington
Publish Date: Aug 2, 2016
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: Life down South just got a whole lot sweeter in Susan Schild’s new novel about a woman whose happily-ever-after is about to begin…whether she’s ready for it or not.

Finally, just shy of forty years old, Linny Taylor is living the life of her dreams in her charming hometown of Willow Hill, North Carolina. The past few years have been anything but a fairy tale: Left broke by her con man late-husband, Linny has struggled to rebuild her life from scratch. Then she met Jack Avery, the town’s much-adored veterinarian. And she’s marrying him.

Everything should be coming up roses for Linny. So why does she have such a serious case of pre-wedding jitters? It could be because Jack’s prosperous family doesn’t approve of her rough-and-tumble background. Or that his ex-wife is suddenly back on the scene. Or that Linny has yet to win over his son’s heart. All these obstacles—not to mention what she should wear when she walks down the aisle—are taking the joy out of planning her wedding. Linny better find a way to trust love again, or she might risk losing the one man she wants to be with—forever…

Review: This is the first book by Susan Schild that I've read and it most definitely won't be my last. Susan writes characters that are lovable and very real.

This is the second book in the series. I really wish I would have read the first book because I might have had a little more insight into Jack and Linny's relationship.

When this story starts they are on their way to marriage, yet they've only been dating about four months. I know this sort of thing happens, but considering Jack has a young son from a previous marriage, I found their decision to walk down the aisle to be a little premature. Maybe if I had read the first book, I could have understood the reasoning for this.

Linny is quite a character. You will love her and you will want to choke her. She's that friend that brings drama with her wherever she goes and she wants to get things so right that she gets them so wrong.

The one thing you can say about Linny is that she tries hard and she doesn't always screw up. She has a lot of things working against her. Neal, Jack's twelve year old son seems to have mixed feeling about her. Then there's Vera, Jack's ex who really can't stand her. Lastly there are Jack's parents that are stuck in the middle of a divorce they don't know much about.

I love the supporting cast, Kate, her pregnant sister that has some issues of her own and her bff, Mary Catherine. They both helped Linny find her way and fix some of her mistakes.

I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to continue Linny's story. I do recommend that you read Linny's Sweet Dream List first.

Rating: 4 flowers