Customer Reviews

Ozark Weddings: The Hills Are Alive with the Ring of Romance (Romancing America)

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If you should want to dig for Arkansas literary gems, let me suggest Ozark Weddings: The Hills Are Alive with the Ring of Romance (Romancing America). The book contains three Arkansas diamonds from the natural state. Pick the book up and dig in for some sparkling entertainment. Told in the vernacular, these stories have a folksy tone that is relaxing, invigorating, and good-humored.

Three romances are in this one book. They all occur in the state of Arkansas. All three couples are thirty-something.

First, there's LARKSPUR DREAMS, set in Eureka Springs, Larkspur is an artist with a new neighbor. She has a plan of helping the accountant, who has moved next door, loosen up. Do opposites attract?

Second, there is THE LOVE SONG. In this story an unpolished gem of a lady attracts the attention of two suave men. Who will win her heart? The city of Little Rock comes to life on the pages. Having spent repeated vacations at Petit Jean, I enjoyed the waterfall scene.

Third, CASTLES IN THE AIR is the tale of a Hot Springs candy-store owner who has an encounter with a geek. Will there be a romance?

All three stories sparkle with humor and romance. LARKSPUR DREAMS is a stylized tightly-written story. The other two reveal different facets of child abuse. CASTLES IN THE AIR is a slice-of-life page turner.

This is a great three-in-one collection by Anita Higman and Janice Thompson.

I enjoyed reading each of these stories, all set in Arkansas. The authors put a fresh twist on these romances. In "The Love Song", the main character is a painfully shy young woman. What a different heroine than the usual bubbly, outgoing characters. And the authors did a wonderful job in portraying what it is like to be shy.

But I can't say it was my favorite story in the collection, because I also really enjoyed "Castles in the Air" in which the hero is a geek. Yes, he's a true nerd. What a wonderful and humorous take on a character. This story was a lot of fun to read. Yes, Zachary Martin got over his geekiness a little bit throughout the course of the book, but not completely. How wonderful to be loved just for who you are.

All in all, one of the better novella collections I have read in a while. And Anita Higman is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

**This book was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. However, I don't post a review unless I truly like the story.

One of my favorite authors of late is Janice Thompson. She and Anita Higman (who is a new favorite after reading this book!) have teamed up to compile a book featuring three stories based in Arkansas.

Here is the synopsis of this novel:

The Hills are Alive with the Ring of Romance...And love is challenging three women to soar to new heights of hope and faith in the Ozark Mountains. Larkspur Wendell hates to see anyone not enjoying life. So when a solitude-seeking neighbor moves in, she's compelled to get to know him. Everett Holden moved into a small town to work in peace and quiet. But his neighbor seems to have an entirely different agenda. Will Larkspur's attention bring him out of his shell or drive him in even deeper?
Painfully shy Clair O'Neal suddenly finds herself attracting two different men - image coach Glenn Yves and musician Hudson Mandel. Both are drawn to her unassuming presence and inner beauty. Can a vulnerable Clair trust either of them with their heart?
Nori Kelly's biological clock is a ticking time bomb. But the only one seemingly interested in her is Zachary Martin, a tried and true member of the "geek" squad. Is this nerd her only hope of defusing her volatile situation?
Will these three women find their true loves amid this myriad of males - for better or for worse?

Here are `Dear Readers' notes from each author:

Dear Readers,
It is such an honor to share Ozark Weddings with you. All three love stories are set in the beautiful state of Arkansas. I hope these novels give you many hours of entertainment, but I also pray your heart will be lifted up in the process, and you will come away knowing the love and hope that God offers us through His Son, Jesus. Please visit my website at [...] and drop me a note. I would love to hear from you.
Anita Higman

Dear Readers,
It is with great delight that Anita and I offer our readers these lyrical and romantic stories. These three Arkansas-based tales were crafted to captivate your imagination and to offer you a glimpse of this amazing state where hot springs flow and rivers sing. Beyond that, however, we hope you are captivated by the love stories...not just the ones between the hero and heroine, but the eternal story, which is sung over us each day by the very One who created us to love and be loved. He alone is worthy of our praise.
Janice Thompson

This book is a compilation of three previously published books; `Larkspur Dreams,' `The Love Song,' and `Castles in the Air.' I really liked this book. I preferred `Larkspur Dreams' and `Castles in the Air' over `The Love Song,' but there all were endearing and sweet. I enjoyed the fact that the main character in the previous story is mention in the next story - that was fun!

I really liked the main character of Larkspur Wendell in `Larkspur Dreams;' I like her world view. Here she is describing her new neighbor, Everett Holden III:

Turning to her new neighbor, Lark couldn't help but notice God had been quite charitable with his appearance. He had a striking presence with his hazel eyes, short brown locks, and a "surely he must lift weights" kind of build. Hmm. Early to mid-thirties, same as me. Same medium height. But who wears a suit to move in? And his tie look liked it would work equally well as a tourniquet. Lark also took note that Mr. New Guy held the bow on the sack of brownies as if he were holding the tail of a dead skunk. (p. 7)

Another amusing scene is when Picasso, Lark's pet duck (!!) escapes from her backyard. Lark is all dressed up for an evening out, and she is a little perturbed:

Then she remembered a trick she'd used with her first pet duck. Yes. She needed the convincing boom of the megaphone on the bottom shelf of the entry closet, and clopped back down the driveway. Lark flipped the switch on the horn, and it squeaked to life. Suddenly like magic, she remembered the roar of the crowd from college - the students she'd revved up to a feverish pitch. The rush of winning. She wondered if she still had it in her. She lifted the megaphone to the mouth and announced, "Okay, Picasso. This is Lark speaking. Let's bring yourself on home now. You can do this, Picasso. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go."
As if on some unexplainable cue, Picasso stopped in mid-waddle in the center of the street. He turned around, lowered his head, and began his descent from rapture. Skelly [her neighbor] turned around, shrugging his shoulder at her. Then he laughed until his whole body quaked. (p. 48)

The main character in `The Love Story,' Clair O'Neal, was a sweet and lovely lady who loved her Lord:

Her thoughts shifted to the banks of the Arkansas River. She closed her eyes and pictured the Lord taking her by the hand and leading her to the very edge of the water, to sit in peaceful solitude and enjoy the view. Her heart swelled at the thought of it. God - the Maker of the Universe - wanted to spend time with her. To draw her to a quiet, intimate place. To call her His beloved, just as Ima had done. To wash away the pain from the past in the mighty rivers of His love.
"God, my Father..." She started to whisper a prayer but stumbled across the word Father. Visions of her stepfather came to mind right away, but she pressed them back and forged ahead. Clair poured out her heart to the Lord, thanking Him for all of the marvelous changes in her life over the past several days. She prayed for His guidance regarding the bookstore, and for His will concerning her new friendships.
Afterward, she felt the strangest sensation - as if the Lord had swept into the room and lifted her into His arms. For the first time in a long while, she truly felt as if she could conquer all of the demons of the past. (pp. 170-171)

I was particularly drawn to `Castles in the Air,' as the main character, Nori Kelly, owns a candy store; I have a friend who also owns a candy store ([...]). Early on in the story was an encounter with Nori Kelly and her neighbor as described from her perspective:

Oh no. She noticed her neighbor, Zachary Martin, emerge from his apartment as if he'd been waiting for her.
"Greetings." He appeared to study the floor.
"Hi." Nori wondered why Zachary was the only one in the known galaxy to greet people that way.
He raked his fingers through his short brown hair, which made a couple of his locks rise up like antlers.
Nori squelched a chuckle. She knew he was stalling, trying to think of something to say. If she hadn't been so tired, she would have given him a few rounds of chitchat. Instead she jangled her keys to give him a hint.
Zachary stuffed his fists in his pockets, making his polyester pants rise even higher. His white socks emitted a glow as if lit by a black light. "Hope your evening has been....good...so far."
"I think it has been...so far." Nori smiled, sliding her key into the lock.
"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there's a 20 percent change of snow tonight." Zachary stroked his palms together.
"It's already snowing." Nori tried not to have a condescending tone.
He shuffled his feet. "Oh." (p. 240)

I also loved this conversation between Nori and her candy store manager, Lizza, after Zachary had left the store:

Lizza tied another peach satin ribbon around a miniature box of gumdrops. "Zachary seems like a lonely guy. Makes me want to bundle him up and stick him in my pocket for safekeeping."
"Yeah, maybe." Nori helped Lizza stack the dainty boxes on a display table.
"I don't know. I always say that about people who look sort of lost. Like he doesn't know the secret."
"What secret?" Nori asked.
"That every person is wondrously hand-designed by God. I think the reason people don't turn out so well sometimes is because no one has ever told them that."
Nori thought if she told Zachary that he was wondrous, he would never stop pestering her. Hmm. But was he bothering her? She no longer knew for sure. In fact, this time she'd felt nervous and tongue-tied.
"And like I said, I think he's charming." Lizza gave the top box a little pat. (p. 252)

Nori also had a sweet encounter with her Lord at The Chapel in the Woods:

Nori knelt at the altar. Without holding anything back, she poured her heart out like a child - emptying all the joys and worries and hopes to her Father, her Friend, and her Savior.
After a long moment of reflection and then a prompting in her spirit, she prayed. "Forgive me, Lord, for desiring that tight little circle of love to always be about romance and not about You. I acknowledge You as the Lover of my soul and the Someone who cares for me far more than any husband ever could. Help me never to forget these truths and to love You first, above all."
And then Nori wept. And waited. And listened. The Lord came near and comforted her. After some time had passed, she rose from the bench, feeling refreshed. (p. 338)

I have read several books by Janice Thompson: `Swinging on A Star,' `Allegheny Hopes' and 'It Had To Be You.' This is the first time I had the opportunity to read Anita Higman's work. It is hard to know who wrote what, so I will assume that I am a new fan of Ms. Higman! I thank Anita for providing the book to me, and for introducing me to her work - well done to both ladies!

This book was published by Barbour Publishing and generously provided by Anita Higman.

Reviewed by Andrea Schultz - Ponderings by Andrea - [...]

The hills are alive with the ring of romance... and love is challenging three women to soar to new heights of hope and faith in the Ozark Mountains. (from the back cover)

Larkspur Dreams by Anita Higman: Larkspur Wendell is happy-go-lucky and she hates to see anyone in a funk. When her new neighbor, Everett Holden, moves in, he is much too solitary, and Larkspur is determined to bring him out of seclusion. Everett moved to the small town for peace and quiet, but that seems to be the last thing on Larkspur's agenda. Will Larkspur's attention bring Everett out of his shell? Or drive him in deeper?

The Love Song by Anita Higman and Janice Thompson: Clair O'Neal is painfully shy. She is thrust out of her comfort zone when her boss asked her to go to meet a famous author. The gathering is filled with "the beautifuls"--people Clair is convinced belongs there. She turns to leave but is stopped by image coach Glenn Yves who insists on introducing her to the author. But then Clair falls, making a spectacle of herself. Musician Hudson Mandel helps her up. Both men are attracted to Clair, but since both of them are a member of "the beautifuls" will Clair be able to trust either with her heart?

Castles in the Air by Anita Higman and Janice Thompson: Nori Kelly's biological clock is not only ticking, it's alarm is ringing. But men just aren't interested in Nori, unless they are a member of the "geek" squad. Zachary Martin is a tried-and-true member of the "geek" squad and he's truly interested in Nori. But what will it take for a nerd to win Nori's heart?

OZARK WEDDINGS is a collection of three previously published Heartsong Presents romances, all set in Arkansas. I had read these books when they first came out several years ago. It was nice to see these three books as part of the Romancing America series, representing Arkansas.

All three stories were good, but I think the first one, Larkspur Dreams, was my favorite, maybe because it had the most humor. If you are looking for a good three-in-one collection to read, then OZARK WEDDINGS is a book to consider.

If you enjoy a quick romance, endearing characters, a setting that pretty much becomes a character, and stories that connect to each other, then Ozark Weddings will fit the bill. I am also always impressed when two authors can work together and, by aligning their talents, create such wonderful stories.

All three books in the Ozark Weddings collection are charming. You will love the characters and cheer for their loves. You will get mad at their miscommunications, or wrong perceptions, and you will keep reading page after page to be sure everything works out in the end. Does it? I am not a spoiler, you have to read for yourself. These books are fun to read and I am sure lovers of romance will love alll three books.

I love the way Anita and Janice work together to tell a compelling story with humor. While each of these stories are set in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, they are unique. The characters are delightful, and their problems are realistically faced and worked through. I'm not much for romance for romance's sake. The fluffy kind that is focused entirely on the romance. I like romance with depth, and Anita and Janice can be counted on to deliver that with their stories, both together and individually. I highly recommend Ozark Weddings.

The three love stories in Ozark Weddings each delight, inspire and transport the reader. Even though I was disappointed that the title of the book pretty much told me how each tale would end, the characters kept me turning the pages. Each hero and heroine were genuinely interesting, down-to-earth and flawed enough for us to be able to relate to them, but not so much that readers look down on them. The brevity of the individual stories makes this book great for the reader who is looking for great fiction, but doesn't want to commit to an epic novel. I highly recommend this three-in-one collection.

Ozark Weddings: The Hills Are Alive with the Ring of Romance by Anita Higman and Janice Thompson - is a good read that's well worth your time!

This book consists of three separate books in one: 'Larkspur Dreams,' 'The Love Song' and 'Castles in the Air'.
All of the stories are set in Arkansas and each one involves interesting, deep characters. I really liked the three in one concept, and was surprised that I enjoyed each of the stories. I don't always enjoy all of the offerings in a collection.

First and foremost (for me), the writing is good. I don't enjoy reading inspirational fiction that's poorly written. Higman and Thompson do a great job together and tell believable stories about endearing people that you can genuinely be interested in.

I have to say that my very favorite was the third story, 'Castles in the Air'. The characters, a Candy store owner and a computer nerd IT guy, will steal your heart. My only regret, honestly, is that there wasn't a whole book about these two surprisingly refreshing characters. I haven't read such an unusual story in a long time. A story about "real-type" people? Loved it!

A great recent reading discovery for me is the team of Anita Higman & Janice Thompson in Ozark Weddings, a Three-in-one collection (Barbour) and additional brand new release, Under the Mistletoe, (Summerside) by Higman with Irene Brand.

Ozark Weddings might be described as cozy country romance with engagingingly believable characters facing and surviving true-life challenges. Although this Three-in-one would have been worth the price for the first story alone, Larkspur's Dreams, all three are compelling reads. I love the way all three interact with the same locale and some of the same characters, plus found myself wondering how the author chose which tale to place first since each left me thinking about the characters after I finished reading.

Higman is someone to look for and follow.

Delores Topliff, [...]

and President, Minnesota Christian Writers Guild [...]

Pure romance. Every woman's fantasy. Anita Higman and Janice Thompson wove three enchanting stories about six disparate people--flawed and lonely but made whole through love in Arkansas and bound together in the collection Ozark Weddings.
In Larkspur Dreams gregarious Lark falls in love with her new neighbor. And who can differ more from Larkspur Wendell, an illustrious illustrator of children's books than Everett Holden III. An accountant, a recluse, stiff and unapproachable, Holden holds Larkspur at a distant--even though their offices face each other and he finds himself studying her. Lark sees beyond his cold exterior and falls for this handsome neighbor. The melting of the ice between them will warm your heart.
Love Song introduces us to shy Clair--a soon to be owner of a bookstore with a voice that would make angels jealous. Two men love her--one, Glenn Yves an image coach for the beautiful people, the other, Hudson Mandel, a singer and guitar teacher. Glenn's help allows the true Clair to shine through with style, but her love for Hudson truly transforms her. This story shows eloquently the effects of our pasts and our need to rise above them.
Finally we meet chubby Nori and owner of a candy shop (now here's a fantasy for me) and her geeky neighbor Zachary who listens to Nori's every move and puts himself in her path. Nori never notices. Handsome Blake makes Nori drool more than Gummy Bears. But on their first date, she discovers and empty head behind his beautiful face. She believes she'll never find love. Then Jesus steps in and opens her eyes to Zachary. Wrapped in Nori and Zachary's plain exteriors are warm, passionate, intelligent people. Their interests, compassion and intellect blend beautifully.
Whether you are searching for love or romantic escape, this collection of novels is sure lighten you day.