Customer Reviews

Almost Home

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This anthology boosts a 1996 novella from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Debbie Macomber, but the other three lesser known authors have brand new never released stories in the book.

While all of the stort stories are great romantic stories, the first story in the book, Whale Island by Cathy Lamb was just outstanding. The author's wit and charm came through in flying colors throughout the story. The story was written in the first person, which I generally don't like that much, but the author was well versed and made the text flow. I couldn't put the story down. I found the hero and heroine so true to life characters I could easily picture their romance happening and the two sticking together forever.

The other three stories were equally interesting and fun to read. There were heartwarming romantic stories that you don't get to read often enough these days. Judy Duarte's Queen of Hearts, was a little slow to get into at first, but I simply enjoyed the way Judy wove the letters from the advice columnist's readers into the fabric of the story that soon I was engrossed in the story and couldn't put it down until the very end.

The Honeymoon House featured two sets of friends that just knocked my socks off. I just loved Kate's friend Amanda and her relationship with her on again-off again fiance, as well as Kate's relationship with Andy.

Debbie Macomber has long been a favorite of mine. Her inspirational stories full the need for any romantic at heart. I liked the fact that the lead heroine, Katie, has a conscious and worries for the bride-to-be, even as she gets carried away with the moment, with the groom.

Delightful stories every one, I think that the traditional romance novel lovers will like this collection of stories.

Description:
The Marrying Kind by Debbie Macomber
High school sweethearts Katie and Jason haven't seen each other in ten years - and now she's walked back into his life. With one look, the love they shared comes flooding back - only now the odds seem stacked against them.

Whale Island by Cathy Lamb
Family secrets and imposing friends are making Chalese feel like an outsider in her very own home on beautiful Whale Island. But it's only when a shocking revelation makes her feel truly lost that she opens her heart to the possibilities the past offers - including a chance at love with the last man she expected.

Queen Of Hearts by Judy Duarte
Her high school reunion is coming up, and advice columnist Jenn Kramer couldn't be dreading it more - until she lays eyes on Marcos. Jenn hardly noticed him when they were kids, but know he's all grown up.

The Honeymoon House by Mary Carter
It doesn't get more romantic than Andy Beck's cottage on Marth's Vineyard. But love is the last thing on his mind - he just wants to get the cottage ready for his best friends honeymoon. At least that's the plan, until he finds the gorgeous Maid of Honour ransacking his house - in the most irresistible way.

Loved this collection of short romantic tales by four different authors. It was kind of like trying out samples at the grocery story, a taste of something sweet and delicious that left you wanting more. My schedule is pretty full right now, so it was nice to be able to pick up this book and actually sit down and finish a story in one or two sittings. I also liked the way the authors jumped right into each plot and kept it moving. This would be a good book for people who are short on time and like happy endings.

I have many times picked up a multiple author romance book which has a big name author and several little known names. Many times I have thus found a wonderful new author to read. In this case I had discovered Cathy Lamb from a previous year's Christmas 4 author book. I have read everything she has written since. She is the reason I purchased this book. I have also read Debbie Macomber but never the other authors. I do not like to disparage the other stories in this book. But I loved Cathy Lamb's story as I knew I would. All of her writings are on my keeper shelf. Her stories are just great!

Almost Home is an omnibus of 4 romance stories with Debbie Macomber's name large on the cover, despite the fact that her contribution is very small.
Whale Island is a romance novella by Cathy Lamb. Chalese Hamilton is an author of children's books, living incognito on Whale Island under the guise of an animal lover who makes jams and jellies. Aiden Bridger, a journalist with the Washington Review, is determined to do a story on her. Chalese is worried that his expose will harm her standing on the island, but worse, will uncover some family secrets that Chalese and her mother and sister would rather remain hidden. Add to that the fact that Aiden and Chalese seem to be mutually very much attracted, and you have the basic premise of the story. The plot's OK, but the characters are rather irritating, and some of the language made me want to throw up: "long, lusty lashes" "my nervousness unnerved me" UGH!! Don't need to read any more by Cathy Lamb!
Queen of Hearts is a romance novella by Judy Duarte. Jennifer Kramer and her 5 year-old daughter Caitlyn are living with Jenn's mother, Susan, who is in the throes of divorce, after Jenn's marriage to problem gambler and high-school sweetheart, James, broke-up. Jenn is trying to make ends meet working part-time for the local paper as an agony aunt. Marc Alvarado, high-school geek with a crush on Jenn, is now a successful business man about to embark on a scholarship scheme for college students. Marc recognises Jenn immediately as the cheerleader who rejected him, but she doesn't know this rich and very hot tycoon, although she is very attracted to him. The Dear Diana emails are a cute touch: even if the plot is rather predictable, it's a sweet romance and probably one of the best of the four stories.
The Honeymoon House is the name of the cottage that maid-of-honour Kate Williams has been charged by almost-bride Amanda Bailey to de-romanticise in the romance novel of the same name by Mary Carter. The cottage belongs to Andy Beck, who has done his utmost to make it a romantic setting for his best friend Pete Dean's honeymoon, and he's very annoyed to find this sexy bridesmaid undoing all his hard work, drinking the happy couple's champagne and invading the privacy of his darkroom. A bit of a shaky start, but the novel eventually develops with a good plot, some likeable characters (and some irritating ones) and some sweet and sad moments. One of the better offerings in this omnibus.
The Marrying Kind is a very short romance novella (only 69 pages) by Debbie Macomber. Ten years ago, after Katherine Kern had been married to Jason Ingram for all of 2 hours, her parents had separated the couple, had the marriage annulled and he never saw her again. Now, less than 2 days before he is to marry Elaine, he sees her in the bar of his hotel. When he eventually approaches her, stunned that he is still as attracted as he ever was, they both feel the need to discuss what happened. Before either of them knows what has happened, they have spent the night together, and things start to get very complicated. Unusually for Debbie Macomber, this book contains a rather hot sex scene about 15 pages in. Jase seems a bit self-centred, while Katie could do with a bit more spine, but love conquers all in this small dose of Macomber romance.

I usually enjoy novels with multiple short stories because they can be quickly read while providing adequate entertainment. I honestly was very disappointed with these, because unlike other short stories, especially by Macomber, I found these very disjointed and lacking proper flow. It was almost if necessary chapters were deleted. The stories seemed choppy. Perhaps there was too much substance without enough time to connect all the dots.

I have all of Debbie Macomber's books and her cookbook. She is a fantastic writer besides being a Christian. Can hardly wait for her books to come out.

LOVE EVERY WORD OF THIS BOOK. NEVER LAUGH SO HARD AS I DID ABOUT THE HORSE IN THE DINING ROOM.

Debbie Macomber writes of people and their lives in such a way that, after reading her books, it feels like you know these people, their dreams, their families and all about them. Wonderful reading!

Even though it has several stories in it by different authors, it is a good book to read. Each author writes in a similar manner to Ms. Macomber, making for an easy flow of each story. Entertaining.

Some of the stories were a bit slow and one was a bit confusing. Not the high caliber as I have seen from these ladies.