Review: From the Start by Melissa Tagg

Book Cover and Synopsis:

Kate Walker used to believe in true love and happily ever after. While her own love life may have left her brokenhearted, it hasn't kept her from churning out made-for-TV romance movie screenplays...until a major career slump and a longing to do something meaningful send her running back to her hometown of Maple Valley.

Permanently sidelined by an injury, former NFL quarterback Colton Greene is temporarily hiding out in a friend's hometown to avoid the media and the reminders of all he's lost. Maple Valley seems like the perfect place to learn how to adjust to normal life. The only trouble is he's never really done normal before.

While Kate plays things safe and Colton is all about big risks and grand gestures, they both get what it's like to desperately need direction in life. An unexpected project gives them both a chance to jumpstart their new lives, but old wounds and new dreams are hard to ignore. Starting over wasn't part of the plan, but could it be the best thing that's ever happened to them?

My source for book: Review Copy

My Thoughts:
People in the public eye and entertainment industry often seem mysterious to me, so reading about them--even in a fictional way--is always intriguing. This novel's got two of those "public eye" figures, though they're on completely different levels. I liked Kate's involvement with writing screenplays for tv movies, as it's a behind-the-scenes job and not a common occupation for a novel character to have. I was also intrigued to see her feelings and reactions when people would watch the movies she had written. Her desire to move on to something more important in life--but feeling stuck where she's at--is something most people can likely relate to, and it was interesting to watch her branch out and piece together what she really wanted from life by spending time with a different set of people while visiting "home" in Maple Valley.

Since Colton is a retired football player, there is quite a bit of talk about football--though honestly not as much as I expected, which I was thankful for. Like me, Kate knows zero about the game, so the conversations never get overly technical or involved. If you are *not* a football fan, don't let that push you away from the book. It was actually good for me to read since it puts a face and personality onto a player, and it emphasizes that sports idols are just regular people like you and me, which is much different from the stereo-types and ideas we often have about them.

If you follow the author online at all, you know she is a big fan of Gilmore Girls. This is also pretty apparent by looking at some of the settings and different events that take place in Maple Valley. I won't get into specifics to avoid spoilers, but I admit I felt some things were ideas pulled directly from the tv show with just minor tweaking. I do love the Gilmore's, and maybe some of this was meant as homage to the show, but there's enough parallels between the two that it seemed like one of the characters should point it out as a good natured way to poke-fun-at and openly acknowledge it. That didn't happen though, so I think a few less parallels would've been more to my liking.

For those interested in this book, I recommend reading the novella "Three Little Words" beforehand, as it acts as a great intro to the town and some of the characters. It's not absolutely necessary, but it just adds a bit of back-story that's nice to have. (Plus it's a great story!)

Overall, I did enjoy "From The Start" for the most part, though I don't think it will be a story that sticks with me very long as it doesn't really stand out from the crowd in my mind. Still, I did enjoy it while reading, and I liked how the ending was happy but wasn't a carbon copy of many others. If you've enjoyed any of Melissa's previous stories, I would say picking this one up is a good bet as you'll likely enjoy it too.

My Rating: 4 stars

Thanks to the publisher (BethanyHouse) for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley.

Review: Three Little Words by Melissa Tagg

Book Cover and Synopsis:

Ava Kingsley and Seth Walker might be the most unlikely friends ever. The only thing these two polar opposites have in common is a knack for wordsmithing. Back in college, they were known for their written sparring in the campus newspaper's popular "He Says/She Says" column.

At their ten-year college reunion, they pick up right where they left off. Except this time their squabbling leads to a surprising turn: friendship and a year-long exchange of emails. So when Ava approaches a crossroads in her athletics department career in Minnesota, Seth is quick to offer the open apartment above the restaurant he's been remodeling in Maple Valley, Iowa.

Ava doesn't know where her career will lead her next, but she's starting to suspect she might see Seth as more than a pen pal. Which would be exciting...except for the fact that he only sees her as a friend.

As Maple Valley grows on her, Ava wonders if there might be something here for her even though Seth is unavailable. And maybe, just maybe, after all the words the two of them have exchanged over the years, they'll finally be able to say the three that matter most.

My source for book: Personal Library

My Thoughts:
I love when a novella doesn't actually feel like a novella. The pacing on this one is really good, and it's very much a complete story despite the shorter length. It doesn't seem rushed or lacking details at all. Score!

While I couldn't identify with Ava's love of sports and (strange!) desire to be a football coach, I certainly could relate and sympathize--as I'm sure most can--to her struggle of knowing where to take her life next. As for Seth, I really admired his desire to keep his relationships solid and to not imitate his split-up parents. It was interesting to see him weigh this conviction against his feelings and come to terms with what he ultimately wanted.

I liked how the story was built on the basis of a long distance email friendship. Not many emails are actually featured, but they are the foundation for the growing relationship between Ava and Seth. I thought it was cute how they continued to email each other even when they were in the same town, and even the same room! :)

This novella serves as an introduction to Melissa Tagg's "Walker Family" series, but it would also work well as a stand alone. It's definitely one of the best novellas I've read in quite a while, and I can easily recommend it.

My Rating: 5 stars

Review: Here to Stay by Melissa Tagg

Book Cover and Synopsis:

Blake Hunziker has played nomad for five years and landed in his fair share of trouble too. But now he's finally returning to his hometown--the Lake Michigan tourist town of Whisper Shore. Counting on a not-so-warm welcome, he's surprised at not only a positive reception but also a job offer. Determined to settle down and prove himself responsible, he agrees to the catch that comes with the job offer--coordinating the annual Christmas festival--even though he has no idea how he'll pull it off.

Autumn Kingsley, inn owner and experienced organizer of the Christmas festival, has always dreamed of traveling the world. Now she has a job opportunity in Paris and a surprise potential investor coming to town who just might take on her family's inn and finally leave her free to go. The only problem is that she has just two weeks to whip the inn into shape.

Their families have a long history of not getting along, but when Blake comes to Autumn for help with the festival, she actually agrees...in exchange for his help with the repairs to her inn. They may have struck a simple deal, but complications are quick to pile on when the guy who's had enough of running away and the woman who can't wait to leave join forces. 

My source for book: Review Copy

My Thoughts:
Having previously "met" Blake in the author's prior book (Made to Last), I was anxious to reconnect and learn more about him. He still has the same fun-loving personality, though it's somewhat toned down by the reality of going home and coming to terms with--and trying to overcome--his past. While I did somewhat miss his over the top wackiness, at the same time it was actually very interesting and moving to see beneath his personality to the grief and uncertain feelings that he carries around.

Autumn is fairly easy to identify with, despite the fact that her longings to travel don't really match up with mine. I liked her inn and genuinely wanted to see her succeed, especially when the odds were stacked so severely against her. The stiffness in her relationships with her family was sad but also very enlightening when she discovered the underlying cause. It makes you stop and realize how lack of communication builds up walls, and sometimes you don't even know it until after it's happened.

Something that really spoke to me was the bit of advice that Blake's friend gave to him about life: "You don't have to see every open door on the way to your end goal--just the one staring you in the face." This was a great reminder for me, and I pondered on it for days after. The future may be unclear, but all we need to do is just what God puts in front of us, not worrying about anything past that. Sometimes it takes seeing the truth in story-form for the message to hit home, and this did just that for me! Thank you, Melissa!

I didn't initially realize the story was set late in the year, but the town's Winter Festival--and Christmas, to a lesser extent--is actually a large part of the story. I'm a bit of a Christmas fanatic so I didn't mind reading it in the summer, but some people might want to wait until the holiday season to enjoy it. It's in no way necessary to read it around Christmas, but it just might add a bit of extra fun! :)

As for the ending, it was sweet and everything I hoped for, though the journey to get there did take some twists I hoped it wouldn't. Ultimately Autumn had to "live and learn" in order to discover what it was that she really wanted...which is actually fairly realistic when you stop and think about it. So while it was slightly delayed, everything still turned out nicely in the end. Overall, I enjoyed the story quite a bit; the characters were entertaining but at the same time their rocky pasts give them a very normal vibe, like everyday people you might know in real life. This is one I can easily recommend, and I think most fans of the genre will enjoy it!

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Thanks to the publisher (BethanyHouse) for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley.

Review: Made to Last by Melissa Tagg

Book Cover and Synopsis:

Miranda Woodruff has it all. At least, that's how it looks when she's starring in her homebuilding television show, "From the Ground Up." So when her network begins to talk about making cuts, she'll do anything to boost ratings and save her show--even if it means pretending to be married to a man who's definitely not the fiance who ran out on her three years ago.

When a handsome reporter starts shadowing Miranda's every move, all his digging into her personal life brings him a little too close to the truth--and to her. Can the girl whose entire identity is wrapped up in her on-screen persona finally find the nerve to set the record straight? And if she does, will the life she's built come crashing down just as she's found a love to last?

My source for book: Local Library

My Thoughts:
When I think of Miranda, I can't help but remember the old saying, "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." Though I don't condone her deception, it sure is a load of fun to read about!! What I really like about Miranda is the fact that she seems like a normal everyday person--with faults and insecurities--despite the fact that she is a celebrity. She's easy to like and sympathize with, which is what makes it so comical when her deceptive scheme starts to spiral out of control!

Even early on it was fairly obvious that Matthew, the reporter shadowing Miranda, would eventually uncover a scoop about her...but what I couldn't predict was how the scenario would end up unfolding. (Let me just say, things did not turn out the way I imagined, and it was ten times the better for it!) I enjoyed seeing Matthew struggle with his ethics while deciding if he should reveal the scoop or not, as it gave him a very realistic feel and clearly separated him from the ruthless image that reporters often have. I also really liked Matthew's relationship with his young niece; it's uncommonly sweet, and leaves you with a hopeful feeling.

While Matthew is a solid leading man, I have to admit that Blake (Miranda's "pretend" husband) was very close to stealing the spotlight. He had a fun and goofy way about him, yet he had a surprisingly serious side as well. His antics really added a lot to the story; he is honestly one of the best characters I've come across in quite a while. I've heard Blake will also be in Miranda's upcoming book "Here to Stay", and I am ANXIOUSLY awaiting the chance to read more about him!

This is Melissa Tagg's first novel, but it's so solid that you would never guess it to be her debut. I'm quite impressed, actually. The characters were all very realistic feeling, and I absolutely loved the comical scenes that were periodically thrown in. (I also really enjoyed the behind the scenes look at the production of a tv show, and seeing that even "how-to" shows have multiple takes, etc.) I've found a new author to follow, and there's no doubt that I'll be snatching up her next book as soon as it's available!

My Rating: 4.5 stars