If It Makes You Happy

  ~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Never miss out on future posts by following Seaside Book Nook.

What It's About:  IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY can be described as Gilmore Girls meets thePumpkin Spice Café – but a lot steamier! Set in small-town Copper Run, Vermont, in autumn 1997, Olivia’s first traditionally published novel offers readers a love story that feels like the first sip of a warm, delicious latte on a cold day. It’s a grumpy-meets-sunshine, fish-out-of-water tale of two small-town business owners and next-door neighbors who fall head-over-heels for each other, set in a simpler time before smart phones and internet dating.

Copper Run, Vermont, 1997: The leaves are changing colors. School is back in session. The locals are decorating for Halloween. The most inviting scents are wafting from the bakery. And a taxicab delivers an out-of-towner and her dog to the local inn.

 

When big-city advertising executive and recent divorcee’ Michelle arrives at the bed-and-breakfast that was her mother’s retirement project, she can hardly appreciate the glories of a New England fall. Michelle is grieving her failed marriage and the unexpected loss of her mom. With her life crumbling around her, Michelle suffers one more blow when she agrees to take a leave of absence from her job at the ad agency in Seattle to handle things at her mother’s small-town inn in Vermont. 

 

Michelle doesn’t know the first thing about running an inn. So, when her very helpful, very attractive, single dad of a next-door neighbor offers to give her some hospitality lessons, Michelle agrees. It’s not long before this stubborn city-dweller finds herself falling for small-town living… and for her hot neighbor.

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  I would love life in Copper Run. I don't think I could run an inn, but everything else about the town and the people in If It Makes You Happy, made it a town I would love to be part of. I really liked Michelle and her journey. How hard is it to go from married life in Seattle as well as a successful executive in advertising to losing your mother and moving across country to temporarily run her inn while your sister finishes school. 

There is also Cliff, the single dad neighbor who is also owns the local bakery. His two daughters, Emily and Brittney, draw you in as well.  They are at such different stages in their lives and Cliff does an amazing job with both of them.  Of course Michelle fits right in too.  

I also loved that it was set back in 1997. I don't tend to read a lot books set in the 90's (not sure if it is not a popular timeframe or I just don't stumble upon them) and really enjoyed it.  I was a young adult and coming into my career during that time frame and could relate to Michelle. 

Very enjoyable book and I will be on the look for more books written by Julie Olivia!

Julie Olivia writes cozy love stories filled with humor, spice, and close friend groups that feel like a warm hug. She is a roller coaster fan, avid romance reader, and rainy day enthusiast.

Julie lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and their very opinionated pets.

Amazon 

Get new posts by email:

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club

   ~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Never miss out on future posts by following Seaside Book Nook.

What the Book is About:  NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Two sisters living on Martha’s Vineyard during World War II find hope in the power of storytelling when they start a wartime book club for women in this spectacular novel inspired by true events, from the New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls.

“A dreamy beach book that also sizzles with tension . . . another winner by one of the best historical fiction writers around.”—Fiona Davis, author of The Stolen Queen

2016: Thirty-four-year-old Mari Starwood is still grieving after her mother’s death as she travels to the storied island of Martha’s Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts. She’s come all the way from California with nothing but a name on a piece of paper: Elizabeth Devereaux, the famous but reclusive Vineyard painter. When Mari makes it to Mrs. Devereaux’s stunning waterfront farm under the guise of taking a painting class with her, Mrs. Devereaux begins to tell her the story of the Smith sisters, who once lived there. As the tale unfolds, Mari is shocked to learn that her relationship to this island runs deeper than she ever thought possible.

1942: The Smith girls—nineteen-year-old aspiring writer Cadence and sixteen-year-old war-obsessed Briar—are faced with the impossible task of holding their failing family farm together during World War II as the U.S. Army arrives on Martha’s Vineyard. When Briar spots German U-boats lurking off the island’s shores, and Cadence falls into an unlikely romance with a sworn enemy, their quiet lives are officially upended. In an attempt at normalcy, Cadence and her best friend, Bess, start a book club, which grows both in members and influence as they connect with a fabulous New York publisher who could make all of Cadence’s dreams come true. But all that is put at risk by a mysterious man who washes ashore—and whispers of a spy in their midst. Who in their tight-knit island community can they trust? Could this little book club change the course of the war . . . before it’s too late?

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  What an amazing story.  I loved absolutely everything about it. I was transported by to 1942 on Martha's Vineyard and pulled in the story from page one.  The back story of the troops on the beach, the mysterious man who washes up on the beach, the women in publishing from New York really brought the story of Cadence and Briar come full circle. 

Visiting Martha's Vineyard is a bucket list summer vacation of mine.  Reading The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club, makes me want to book a trip today.  Someday, I will make it there!

I can't wait to read Lilac Girls and I am not sure how I missed it when it was published.  Martha has 3 other books that I have added to my "to read list"; Lost Roses, Sunflower Sisters and The Golden Doves.  

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a must read book! 

Martha's debut novel LILAC GIRLS, about socialite Caroline Ferriday and her fight to help a group of concentration camp survivors, became an Instant NY Times bestseller in 2016 and went on to sell over two million copies. Once the paperback stayed on the NYT list for fifty-four weeks, and became published in fifty countries she wrote two more novels: LOST ROSES about Caroline's mother, and SUNFLOWER SISTERS about her great grandmother, which also became Instant NY Times best sellers. Her latest novel, THE GOLDEN DOVES, which returns to WWII, arrives in bookstores April 18th, 2023. 

Martha grew up in Massachusetts and now splits her time between Connecticut and New York City. 

You'll find more info about the incredible, true stories behind all of her books at her website: http://www.marthahallkelly.com, on Instagram: @marthahallkelly, Facebook.com/marthahallkelly, Twitter: @marthahallkelly and on her ever-changing Pinterest page.

Amazon 

Get new posts by email:

The Glass Eel

  ~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Never miss out on future posts by following Seaside Book Nook.

What the Book is About:  In this gripping debut thriller, struggling divorcée Jeanette King becomes embroiled in a criminal ring when she discovers her ex-husband’s cache of baby eels.

Caterpillar Island is off the central coast of Maine―beloved vacationland of lobster bakes and quaint fried clam shacks, kayaking and country houses. At night, though, by the light of a headlamp, the island is alive with cash, guns, and poachers. Oxy addicts, struggling retirees, and unemployable deadbeats dip their nets in the creeks to catch elvers―two-inch-long baby eels that fetch $2000 a pound on the international black market.

Into this dark and dangerous world falls Jeanette King, who has, up to this moment, been earning her meager living mainly by picking and packaging peekytoe crab meat for shipment to New York and Boston. As Jeanette gets drawn into a fast-moving story of risk and violent consequences, she enlists the aid of a local policeman and an Indigenous activist. Together they try to set things right for the people and the planet. But the deeper they dig, the more dangerous things get. An ensuing procession of colorful locals, corrupt state politicians, and treacherous outsiders weaves a tale that reveals the underbelly of a deadly business.

Advance Praise for THE GLASS EEL: 

"The Glass Eel meets all my standards for fiction: an engrossing and highly imaginative plot; vivid characters; the revelation of a world completely unknown to me; and a narrative style that pulled me right along. Two bonuses: stunning nature writing and hilarious lines that lighten the plot at absolutely critical moments."

― Daniel Okrent, prize-winning author of The Guarded Gate

"Now here’s a world I knew nothing about, but thanks to this wonderful novel I’m completely engrossed in the lives of the characters who inhabit the fisheries of Maine. The Viertels bring them brilliantly to life―I can still taste the saltwater. What a triumph!"

― Lawrence Wright, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Plague Year

One (or more) Sentence Summary: Glass Eel peeked my interest given the setting was the coast of Maine.  Having gotten my MBA at the University of Maine (Orono), I really enjoy stories set in Maine (especially the coast). 

The Glass Eel was a crazy story with so many twists, it ended up being a "can't put it down and I just need to read one more chapter" kind of book.  Loved the characters Jeanette, Jesse and Toland.  They got themselves right in the middle of an illegal glass eel ring and were trying to figure out who the really bad guys behind it were.  Turned out there were several.  Jeanette's ex-husband was a pawn in the scheme, which is how she stumbled into it all. 

The book had so pretty gruesome details, but not over the top and nothing that kept me awake at night. There were a lot of back stories, characters and twists in the book.  There were easy to keep track of and follow along as it was really well written. 

I also really liked the chapters sprinkled in about the crab and the eel.  They weave themselves through the story and it was a perfect fit. 

I can't believe this is J.J. Viertel's (father and son) book but they need to write a lot of more them. 

J.J. Viertel is the pseudonym used by the father-son writing team of Jack and Josh Viertel who live in Maine and New York. Prior to writing this novel, Jack Viertel has been instrumental in bringing many Tony winning new plays, musicals and revivals to theaters, including ANGELS IN AMERICA, Jerry Zaks’s legendary production of GUYS AND DOLLS, GRAND HOTEL, CITY OF ANGELS, JELLY'S LAST JAM, the Brian Dennehy production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN, PROOF, DOUBT, THE PRODUCERS, BOOK OF MORMON, LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! And TAKE ME OUT. He produced the revival of GYPSY and the critically acclaimed revival of FINIAN’S RAINBOW. He was a co-producer and conceiver of the longest running musical revue in Broadway history, SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, the conceiver of the critically acclaimed AFTER MIDNIGHT, and served as the dramaturg for HAIRSPRAY, DEAR EVAN HANSEN, A CHRISTMAS STORY and THE OUTSIDERS. The musical and movie THE PROM were developed from his original concept. Josh Viertel is listed as one of the seven most powerful voices in the food movement by Forbes and Michael Pollan, has been named a Hunt Prime Mover, selected as a Rockwood Leadership Fellow, named President of Slow Food USA, and is co-founder and director of the Yale Sustainable Food Project.

When they aren’t writing crime thrillers together, they each have their own careers: Jack creates Broadway plays and musicals, and Josh creates organic farms. Josh is a fly fisherman and bow hunter and Jack is a scuba diver and barbecue chef. In addition to writing, they play the blues together.

Connect with Jack Viertel: 

Jack’s Website: jackviertel.com

Jack’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jack.viertel/

Jack’s Bluesky: @jackviertel.bsky.social

Connect with Josh Viertel: 

Josh’s Instagram: @joshviertel

Josh’s X/Twitter: @JoshViertel

Josh’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshviertel/

Amazon 

Get new posts by email:

Head Witch In Charge

  ~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Never miss out on future posts by following Seaside Book Nook.

What the Book is About:  It’s the curse of every family’s heir to be the responsible one. My family being the most powerful family in all of Witchingdom doesn’t eliminate that fact, it only makes it worse—and that’s why I, Leona Amber Sherwood, never do the unexpected. Except for that one time I did.

Believe me, I have rued the day that I got married in a midnight ceremony under a full moon to Erik Svensen, the heir to my family’s deepest, bitterest enemies, and now, he won’t agree to a divorce unless we return an ancient spell book to his family’s secured facility.

But on our road trip to return the book, I learn more about Erik as we encounter trolls, nymphs, satyrs, and more. The longer we work together, the more I’m convinced that he might not be the evil trickster I assumed he was. Any more time together will leave me even more enchanted with my husband and that’s the last thing I want. And if I keep telling myself that, maybe I'll start to believe it.

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  Like all the other Avery Flynn books I have read.....Loved it!  I really got a kick out of Leona and Erik. They were both funny and yet serious. They both had some family issues that they were trying to solve. Leona on who she would marry that would be acceptable to her parents and that she could spend the rest of her life with and Erik who was trying to get out from underneath his evil father's plans and save his siblings at the same time. 

Laugh out load scene are followed by some steamy ones, which makes this a perfect RomCom. 

Little did I know that I was reading book 2 of the Witchdom series.  It was a perfect standalone book, however, I can't wait to go back and read book 1 (Witcha Gonna Do?)

Super quick read, great and funny characters, magical world (witchdom/wizards/trolls/pixies that make it really fun), happy ending and some steamy scenes.

A witchy story is perfect this time of year!

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling romance author Avery Flynn has three slightly wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband, and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip. She lives outside of Washington, D.C., with her family, Dwight the cat, and a pack of five dogs all named after food. If she’s not reading romance or binging reality TV, she’s most definitely plotting to take over the world so she can banish Crocs from existence.

Amazon 

Get new posts by email: