Review - - Maps for the Getaway

Maps for the Getaway

by Annie England Noblin

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: June 15, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

It was the road trip of their lives . . . and they did it without a map.

When they posed for a photo at their high school graduation, they vowed they’d be friends forever, but teenage promises are so easily broken, and now, thirty years later, they’re practically strangers.

Cici—stuck in a rut, married to a cheating husband.

Genie—caring for her ailing father but never getting any thanks.

Kate—everyone knows people who look perfect on Instagram are not.

And Laurie—the most successful of them all—now tragically gone.

So, to celebrate Laurie’s life,  three former friends in a 1962 red Lincoln Continental convertible take the road trip of their lives—encountering male strippers, a boy band that has seen better days, crazy motel rooms, adopting a so-ugly-it’s-cute stray dog…and discovering that it’s never too late to live the wild life.

Because, sometimes, to find yourself you have to get away. 

PJ's Thoughts:

Three high school friends who have lost touch over the 20 years since graduation, each at a crossroads in her life, taking a Missouri to Las Vegas road trip in a classic Lincoln convertible to attend a reunion concert of their favorite boy band from their teens to honor their recently deceased fourth bestie? Yes, please!

I loved this book so much. It gave me everything I could want in a summer read. So much so, that I didn't want to say goodbye to these characters at the end; I just wanted to go back to page one and start the journey all over again.

Noblin has filled her story with laugh-out-loud humor, poignant, heart-tugging emotion, self-reflection, growth, more than a few surprises, hope for the future, and bonds of youthful friendship that may fray over the years but with care and understanding can strengthen and hold solid for a lifetime. I cried, I cheered, I may have growled a time or two, I sighed with delight, chuckled repeatedly, and snort-laughed more than once. Noblin's characters, both primary and secondary, leaped from the pages, bringing this story to life with vivid depictions that made me feel like I was traveling those roads with them. And what a fun trip it was!

This was my first book by Annie England Noblin. It won't be my last. Add this one to your summer reading list. It has my enthusiastic recommendation.

Coming Attractions

 

June is upon us and the lead-in to summer is overflowing with great books. Here's what's on the schedule this month.

We launch the month on Tuesday, June 1 with a review and giveaway of The Summer Cottage by Annie Rains. This heart-tugging, contemporary romance launches Rains' new Somerset Lake series. 

On Wednesday, June 2, Kat Martin stops by to share her newest Maximum Security story, an exciting novella titled Come Midnight. 

Stop by Thursday, June 3 for a review and giveaway of Wild Love by Lauren Accardo. This heart-tugging, debut novel launches Accardo's small-town, Forever Adirondack, contemporary romance series. 

Friday, June 4 brings PJ's Top Dish review of Lizzie & Dante by Mary Bly. One lucky poster will benefit from PJ's "oops" (she mistakenly bought two hardcover copies of the book). Stop by to enter the giveaway and check out my review of what's sure to be one of my top books of 2021.

Join us Saturday, June 5 for Hellie's review of The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary, a story of two exes forced to take a road trip together. 

On Monday, June 7, I will share my thoughts about A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams, a heartwarming, diverse, slow-burn story of love and new beginnings set in beautiful and historic Charleston, South Carolina. 

Tracy Brogan is one of those authors who can make me snort laugh and sob on the same page. Stop by Tuesday, June 8 to read my review of Brogan's newest contemporary romance (and the third book of her Trillium Bay series), My Kind of Perfect. 

Wednesday, June 9 brings my review of Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells. If you enjoy French fashion and female spy networks wrapped up in a WWII women's fiction page-turner, check out this review.

On Thursday, June 10, I'll be sharing my thoughts about Love for Beginners by Jill Shalvis, the newest book in her Wildstone series. It is even summer without a new Shalvis book?

Thursday, June 17 brings a review and print giveaway of Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley. I'm eager to read this novel about a successful romance novelist's second chance with her first love. 

Don't miss my review of Maps for the Getaway by Annie England Noblin on Friday, June 18. This road-trip, women's fiction novel is brimming with humor, heart, female friendship, and expected twists and turns along the way. 

Carrie Nichols has created a dog who not only captures characters' hearts but mine as well. Stop by Tuesday, June 22 for my review of The Sergeant's Matchmaking Dog, another heartwarming story in Nichols' Small-Town Sweethearts, contemporary romance series. 

I love debut authors! Stop by Wednesday, June 23 for an excerpt of Not the Kind of Earl You Marry by debut author Kate Pembrooke. This historical romance, which launches Pembrooke's The Unconventional Ladies of Mayfair series, will be released July 27. 

Jaci Burton is back with another book in her contemporary Boots and Bouquets series and this time there's a fake engagement with hearts at stake. Join me on Thursday, June 24 for a review of The Engagement Arrangement.

 

Kaki Warner brings heartwarming romance and heart-pounding suspense to the second book of her Brides of Rough Creek Texas series. Stop by Friday, June 25 for my review of Home to Texas. 

Monday, June 28 brings my review of A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor. This historical romance launches MacGregor's new The Widow Rules series. For an introduction to the hero and heroine of A Duke in Time, download the FREE prequel short story, Where There's A Will. 

Debbie Mason is back with another new book in her heartwarming Highland Falls contemporary romance series. Join me on Tuesday, June 29 for my review of Falling in Love on Willow Creek. 

Is it wrong of me to wish Susan Elizabeth Phillips would only write Chicago Stars books for the rest of her career? Stop by on Wednesday, June 30 for my review of the newest Chicago Stars novel, When Stars Collide. 

That's it for now but we have more books in the queue so keep an eye out for updates throughout the month.

What's on your schedule for June? Any travel? Books on your "must read" list? Tell me what you're most looking forward to.

Two randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, June 6 will each receive a package of books from my stash.

*Must be 18

*U.S. only

*Void where prohibited

Review - - Christmas at Corgi Cove

Christmas at Corgi Cove: A Novel

by Annie England Noblin

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 17, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Rosie Reynolds had come to lakeside Corgi Cove as a lost, lonely girl abandoned by her own mother, but there she discovered a true place to call home. She loves her Corgis, Bonnie and Clyde; loves the lakeside life; and loves her aunt and uncle most of all. But when she discovers their struggling inn is about to be bought out by some big city chain, she hatches a plan: to win a contest naming theirs the best Christmas-themed inn in the USA. It's a long shot, but she knows if the whole town pulls together that they can do it.

But she didn’t count on Everett St Claire, who emerged from his gleaming, black BMW, straightening his tie and asking himself how did a big-city guy like him find himself in a speck on the map like Corgi Cove? And how fast could he get back to the city? After all, it couldn’t be that difficult to convince one elderly couple to take the money to retire.

He didn’t count on getting sucked into life on the lake. Sure, the people might be…eccentric, and Rosie might seem like a pain in the backside, but there is something alluring about the place. And with the holidays nearing, and the deadline looming, Rosie and Everett are about to discover the magic of a Christmas at Corgi Cove.

PJ's Thoughts:

I discovered this author two years ago but it only took that first book (Maps for the Getaway-click for review) to have me snapping up her backlist and eagerly anticipating each new release, especially the winter books. If, like me, you're counting down the days until the start of what I call Hallmark Holiday Movie Season, you'll want to add Noblin's newest offering, Christmas at Corgi Cove to your 2023 reading list. 

This book has all the feel-good elements that I've come to enjoy in my winter holiday reading: humor, love, family dynamics, seemingly insurmountable obstacles, community spirit, holiday hijinks, happy endings, and adorable, mischievous, lovable dogs (cats are good too but this book has dogs). 

I love that the author uses alternating chapters to tell the story from both Rosie's and Everett's points of view. Everett could easily be the villain of the piece but watching his evolution through his own thoughts and actions gives the reader the insight needed to feel empathy for him and his situation. Rosie and her family elicit the reader's support immediately (who doesn't love an underdog?) but Rosie herself has issues to work through. I enjoyed watching both of these characters grow throughout the story, learning what's really important in life, falling for one another bit by bit, discovering the fine art of compromise. By the end of the book, I was cheering for both of them equally hard.

The secondary cast of characters is pure gold and that includes the hilarious Bonnie and Clyde as well as quirky citizens who insert themselves into the picture at every opportunity. Nosy? Oh, heavens no. They're just concerned. The joys of small town life, am I right? They bring plenty of humor to the story but also genuine caring. When the chips are down, the citizens of this town rally to support one of their own without hesitation.

Christmas at Corgi Cove is another heartwarming story from Annie England Noblin that left me awash in the spirit of Christmas and smiling with delight.