Women’s Fiction | Book Chatter

Nantucket
By Nan Rossiter
Kensington Publishing Corporation, Paperback, 9781617736506, August 25, 2015, 352pp.)

The Short of It:

Nantucket is such an idyllic, beautiful locale but even though it’s always been home for Liam Tate it’s also a reminder of what was.

The Rest of It:

After losing his parents in a car accident, Liam Tate moves into his Uncle’s house on Nantucket. Together, they while away the years working on boats or fixing up the house. For Liam, it’s a happy time and he loves living on the island and can’t imagine calling any other place home.

One summer, Cadie and her family vacation on the island. After meeting Liam, it’s pretty much love at first sight but Cadie’s from a well-to-do family and Liam is just a hardworking kid working in the boatyard. Clearly, the two have little in common but their immediate attraction to one another is something Cadie’s father will not tolerate so he whisks her back to New York, far away from Liam Tate.

Liam waits for a letter or phone call but he receives nothing from Cadie. He just assumes that she’s gone off to college to live the life she was meant to live. Several years later, the two are reunited and even though many years have passed, Liam can’t help but feel something for the woman who stole his heart so long ago.

I’ve read all of Nan Rossiter’s books so I was pretty excited to get my hands on this new one. One thing you can always count on is a fabulous setting and this novel is no exception. The other thing you can count on, four-legged characters you can’t ignore. In this case, Tuck, a lovable retriever and his feline buddy, affectionately called, Mobe.

In this novel, Rossiter’s focus is Liam and Cadie’s relationship and the role of second chances. Is it possible to love again after so many years? There is a slightly weightier edge to this story than the ones I’ve read before. Liam is forced to make some very difficult decisions and you all know how much I love it when characters are pushed outside of their comfort zones.

Speaking of characters, I adored Liam. I adored his dog, Tuck. I did not adore Cadie. Gasp! Cadie was just a young girl when this all went down but I was so angry at her for not contacting Liam after she left the island. Sure, she was young but what young person listens to their parents anyway?

That said, this story is a reminder at just how quickly your life can change and how having a little bit of faith can lead you in the right direction. It’s got a fabulous setting, a little bit of romance and some soul-searching, weightier issues to consider. There’s something for everyone.

Nan has been incredibly generous with her books and is offering one copy for me to give away! If you’d like a chance to win a copy, check out the details below.

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

This giveaway is for one copy of Nantucket and is open to the US and Canada. A winner will be chosen randomly by me. The book will come directly from the author. Only one entry per person. Giveaway closes on August 31, 2015 (pacific). I will contact the winner for his/her mailing address.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

Source: Review and giveaway copies provided by the author.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

More Than You Know
By Nan Rossiter
(Kensington, Paperback, 9780758283894, April 30, 2013, 352pp.)

The Short of It:

A wonderful, heartwarming tale about family, faith and the memories that bind us.

The Rest of It:

This is a feel-good book. The kind that warms you from the inside out and puts a smile on your face. I know what you are thinking, “But Ti, you always read such heavy books!” Yes, I know! I do prefer a meaty chunkster to most mainstream fiction but I also like to feel good too and Nan Rossiter has perfected the art of writing books that fall into the feel-good category and her latest is no exception.

Mia Graham’s world changes in an instant when the sudden death of her husband is immediately followed by the delivery of her beautiful baby girl. Beryl and her older sisters Isak and Rumer, grow-up under Mia’s watchful gaze. She is always there for them, helping them through the challenges of life and when the girls are grown and Mia is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it’s the girls, especially Beryl who come to her aid. But after a long battle, Mia is taken from them and they are forced to return to their childhood home to go through her belongings and lay her to rest. While going through her things they discover her diary and realize that their mother had been keeping a secret from them for years. Curious, they dive into her story.

There is a lot of “wonderful” in this novel. When the girls gather at their childhood home in New Hampshire, it’s as if they’ve stepped back in time. Suddenly, they are young girls again and remembering all the special little things that their mom did for them. Simple things like making them cinnamon toast and a good cup of tea. The work of preparing the house for sale is bittersweet but its weight is made lighter by the casual conversations and the meals they share together as a family. Their interactions with close friends and the rest of the town, are enough to sustain them. And let me tell you, if you are a foodie, you will want some comfort food on hand as the food talk really got to me at times! Rossiter must have known this because she included recipes of some of the dishes mentioned in the book.

Of course, I made the one dish that was not included in the back of the book! A dip using cream cheese, chili, green chiles and cheese and let me tell you, my family gobbled it up.

More Than You Know Hot Dip

As far as the story goes, I loved the way Rossiter handled the diary aspect. Shared in sections and read by the girls, it took on a very personal tone and when all was said and done, I really felt as if I got to know Mia quite well which made her passing all the more real.

If you’ve not read Rossiter’s work before, I should tell you that she is a dog lover from way back. Her books always include a canine companion which I find especially nice. And this particular book has some surprises in it. Readers of her other books will notice right away what they are. I enjoyed discovering them on my own so I won’t mention any more about them here.

Overall, a very touching and enjoyable read. I can see LOTS of you reading this one over the summer while sipping a tall glass of iced tea. Gosh, I adore Rossiter’s books.

And a little surprise for you, the author has provided a copy for me to giveaway! If you’d like a chance to win a copy, check out the details below.

Source: Review and giveaway copy provided by the author. Thank you!
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

This giveaway is for one copy of More Than You Know and is open to the US and Canada. A winner will be chosen randomly by me. The book will come directly from the author. Only one entry per person. Giveaway closes on May 17, 2013 (pacific). I will contact the winner for his/her mailing address.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

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