Starting off today's Saturday Six with a book review! Melody Carlson has a brand new book that just came out the end of last month...the first in the Follow Your Heart series. This one is called Once Upon a Summertime, and her publisher, Revell, sent me a copy so I could review it. I took it with me on our trip to Gatlinburg last month and devoured it in two nights flat.
This book introduces readers to Anna Gordon, a single twenty-something who is somewhat embarrassed that after studying hospitality management in college, she's been stuck managing the Value Lodge in her hometown for the past two years. Though she's far from happy, she's also a practical girl and the feeling that she owes her grandmother's friends {who own the lodge and gave her the job} causes her to convince herself that this is just her lot in life.
After literally bumping into an old high school friend on her way to work one day, Anna finds just how much can life can change in one week's time. Before she can catch her breath, she's given the chance to apply for a management position at a brand new, far-from-the-Value-Lodge-mentality, stylish hotel in the heart of New York City. And applying for the job isn't the only excitement she uncovers. It turns out her crush from years gone by, Sean O'Neil, is also in New York City, applying for the same job!
The book is an easy, lighthearted, feel-good romance that gives readers a bonus of touring through New York City! I've never been there, so it was fun to read about some of the attractions {and make mental notes of what to visit if I ever get to go}. It was also fun to peek behind the scenes of the hospitality industry, which has always fascinated me. {Extra fun to read about hotel life while STAYING in a hotel!} It's a smooth, quick read, made me smile, and felt like a movie printed in a book. If you need a book that lets you escape life for a little bit, pick this one!
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I've been writing about our love story for a while now. Not just here on the blog. But one of my actual writing projects has been preserving our love story in words on paper. I adore it. And that's why this project caught my eye. I've not done this or used this program at all, but I find it intriguing. Anything to preserve a person's love story!! If you're looking for a way to keep yours chronicled, this might be one to check out!
6 comments:
You so have to do that library card!!
I just read your post about your Steuben County tour. I go to Pokagon in the fall for a scrapbooking retreat. There's a group of us that scrapbook at church once a month, and we go on a retreat every fall. About a dozen of us go. Some are members of my church and others are other gals that have become part of the group over the years. We've made a lot of memories while scrapbooking our memories!
If you stay at the Potawatomi Inn at Pokagon, do not stay in the Historic section. The rooms are very dated, small, and I don't think you'd be happy there. The newer section is very nice.
This summer, our scrapbooking group is going to try out Kathy's Kaptured Moments in Twelve Mile, Indiana. It sleeps 10 and costs $800 to rent for the weekend, but we're cooking our own meals. Not a bad deal.
The articles you referenced were interesting. Regarding editing of photos, a couple of years ago, we had professional pictures taken of our family while we were in Cancun, Mexico. When I saw the pictures, it took me awhile to realize why I looked like a twenty something instead of a late thirty something- I'd been photoshopped greatly! The pictures with me in them crack me up (not to mention I LOVE them!). I'm not on Facebook and I don't have a single picture of myself on Instagram so I can't say that I engage in editing photos to make myself look better on social media. It is so easy to compare and feel envy of others. I think it's something most of us struggle with on a regular basis. It was a good article.
I really like your book reviews! I just finished reading The Inn at Ocean's Edge by Colleen Coble that you had recommended. Did you think the ending was a bit far-fetched?? (SPOILER ALERT.....) I just can't believe that no extended family/neighbors/etc would have noticed that Mary suddenly went from 2 girls to 1.... I guess otherwise it was a good book; I was just a little disappointed by the ending.
Tamar - I know - isn't it cool???
Tracy - Your scrapbooking retreats sound so fun! There used to be a scrapbooking B&B over in Kokomo, and I LOVED going. It's for sale now, and that makes me sad, because it was such a cool place. Thanks, too for the clarification on the inn. Makes some of the other recommendations I've heard make sense now!
Maria - I was staring at one of my professional wedding pics the other day and realized he must have photoshopped the dimple out of my elbow. LOL!!! No wonder I like that picture so much!! I do a lot of photo editing, but not like that. Not adding and subtracting whole things. I only know how to edit light. And maybe it's better that way.
Anonymous - I must admit that never even occurred to me! {Sometimes I miss the obvious big time.} I was so focused on figuring out how it all happened, that THAT detail never dawned on me. Today's review was a lot less suspenseful and a whole lot more predictable a book. But I still liked it because sometimes you just need an easy read. And for me, vacation was just such a day. Right now I'm reading Kara Tippetts' book "The Hardest Peace," so I'll have that one ready for you next week.
I LOVE that library card story. And I WANT it!!!
Also, I rarely edit photos. Sometimes I crop them to get a picture more centred, and I definitely stage photos, but I don't even no how to edit them and I rarely use a filter on Instagram -- sometimes the black and white one for fun but that's really about it.
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