New Year's Resolutions (Romance Renovations) by Maria Hoagland

ABOUT THE BOOK:
A Romance Renovations novelette. Sign up for my newsletter at http://www.mariahoagland.com/free-book.html and receive a complimentary copy of this story!

Visiting Maui for a holiday wedding that never happens, Grae Beckett and Tate McKenzie find the unexpected--each other. Fiercely independent, Grae vows doesn’t need anyone, but somewhere along the way, she stops being Tate’s job and even starts depending on him.

Part of the Romance Renovations series, "New Year's Resolutions" is a sweet holiday novelette that can be read as a stand-alone. Readers who love HGTV and Hallmark movies will love this sweet romance. Other holidays in this series include "Home for the Holidays" for Christmas, and "Kayaks & Kisses" for Thanksgiving, and The {Re}Model Marriage for every day.

Bonus features include award winning short story "Diagnosis & Treatment" and poem "Problems of Supremacy."

MY THOUGHTS:

What a cute novella. It was a fun quick read over a semi busy Thanksgiving weekend. Had me dreaming of being on the beach.  I loved the friendship and quick bond that Grae and Tate formed. If you are looking for a nice, quick, clean romance give this one a shot! 

Note: I was gifted a copy of this book but all opinions are my own.

Kayaks and Kisses by Maria Hoagland

ABOUT THIS BOOK;
Brynn Caley is about to start her dream career running an outdoor sporting goods store when an out-of-town business guru makes his own offer on the property. Coerced into forming a temporary partnership, Brynn, with her ski experience, finds she has to work with fishing expert Gage to run the year-round shop. Through a series of innocent misconceptions and a few blatant lies, Brynn doesn’t realize that the handsome single guy on the construction crew is her new partner, and he doesn’t want to set her straight until he can gain her favor. She, on the other hand, would do anything not to work with the stuffy businessman she’s only met through email. Inspired by the movies You’ve Got Mail and The Shop around the Corner, Kayaks & Kisses is a heart-warming tale of finding love in autumn leaves, outdoor activities, and new friendships.

MY THOUGHTS:

*Sigh* I loved this book! I am running off of very little sleep today and I figured this novella was a great way to pass the day faster. I loved this take on You've got mail. Such a classic movie. Trying to match the same story line would be hard but the Author totally nails it!  I loved how developed all the characters where it was easy to fall in love with them and feel like you were engrossed in the story right along with them! I have read other books by this Author and I have to say they keep getting better and better! Trust me she. I say you should give this one a shot! 

I was gifted a copy of this book but all opinions are my own!

The {Re} Model Marriage by: Maria Hoagland

ABOUT THE BOOK:
From the outside, Kirk and Jamie appear to have a beautiful home and the perfect marriage. Inside, the aging Craftsman is falling apart, their marriage is crumbling from neglect, and Jamie Royce wants out! Kirk, on the other hand, isn’t ready to give up on either the house or their relationship.

With their divorce scheduled for the day after their daughter’s high school graduation, Jamie and Kirk have to fix the home’s problems to lift their selling price out of the basement. Working to renovate the home together, they discover secrets—in the home, in their marriage, and in the fertility clinic that helped give them their daughter—and find themselves questioning what true love really is.

MY THOUGHTS:
I loved this book. I could relate to it on so many levels. So many people say that remodeling or building a house will cause you to divorce because it is so stressful, but just like Jamie and Kirk in the book, it was like therapy for us. We loved being able to work together and play off either others strengths and to build our dream house together. I love when an author tackles real life stuff that others don't want to approach. Life is hard, marriage is even harder it is refreshing to read a not so fairy like tale once in a while. Maria really hit it out of the park with this one. I absolutely loved it! It is a must read for sure! 

NOTE: I received an ARC copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.

Still Time by: Maria Hoagland

To Learn more about Maria and her books visit her website: http://www.mariahoagland.com/

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Thrust into the chaos of her mother-in-law’s hoarding and forgetfulness, LDS church member Alyssa Johnston wishes she could retreat to a simpler time when her kids were small and almost anything could be fixed with a hug. But reassurance and a quick distraction no longer erase the pain of a missionary son who is struggling, a young teen who is bullied, or a daughter who is distant. As Aly’s own life and relationship with her husband plunge out of control, she wonders if her faith will be enough to keep her family—or herself—from falling apart. Still Time is a deeply moving story about a woman’s faithful journey into the next phase of her life. You will laugh with Aly, feel her sorrow, and see yourself in Maria Hoagland’s realistic, heartfelt portrayal of a woman’s struggle to keep her family safe and hold back time as long as she can.


MY THOUGHTS:

This is the first of Maria's books I have reviewed. It took me a while to get used to reading a book written in first person. In the end though, I felt like I could connect with the characters and the story well. 'Aly' was one brave woman to tackle taking care teenagers and her mother-in-law at the same time. It was nice to read that she had the same feelings and thoughts I would have had in those situations. She was far more patient than I would have been though.  My favorite line from the book was, "If you let the Lord write the story of your mission, it will be a story worth telling." In the book they were talking about serving an LDS mission but I think that applies to life as well. If we dedicate our lives to the Lord our story will be a great one! I love discovering new Authors. I own Maria's other books as well and look forward to reading them soon!