Accounting for the Pastor Book Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

The world is full of second chances...

She’s a divorced bookkeeper with secrets. He’s her new pastor. In 1951, pastors, divorcees, and small towns don’t mix.

After escaping an abusive marriage, Rose Olliver is starting over in the quiet town of Payson, Ohio, with her four-year-old daughter Liza. Between keeping her books in order and her past behind her, Rose has plenty on her mind, and she has no intention of getting involved—especially not with the handsome pastor who wants to break down her walls.

During the war, Caleb Bronson discovered his calling—bringing others to God. But not everyone in his new congregation likes the idea of a single pastor. He’s quickly overwhelmed by parishioners’ demands like field trips with octogenarians and a teens’ boxing club. He is deeply attracted to Rose and hires her to manage his calendar and help him say no.

When a letter arrives that ties Rose to a buried war crime and a man powerful enough to ruin her, Rose wrestles with a terrible choice: protect the life she’s carefully built or speak up.

Can Caleb help her carry the weight of the past? Or will her honesty cost her everything?


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laura Rupper spent her first six years of life in Metlakatla, Alaska. There was no T.V. reception on the island, so a great love of books was born. Laura loves creative activities ranging from painting to designing fourth grade math lessons. Boring chores, like laundry, make her daydream of magical worlds and happy endings.

Laura has three beautiful daughters and one giant dog who was supposed to be 50 pounds but is almost twice that size. Laura is under five feet tall and hopes having lots of energy makes up for her lack of height. She has a degree in Human Biology and works as a school counselor because life can be hard and sometimes students need a helping hand.

REVIEW

In Accounting for the Pastor, Rose Olliver escaped from an abusive marriage and is starting over in a small town with her daughter. When Rose receives a letter asking her to step forward and speak-up about a buried war crime, she struggles with her conscience and the desire to protect her new life. As the past is haunting her, she gets to know the new pastor in town, Caleb Bronson. The new pastor has his own battles and as Rose helps him, she realizes that the past could cost her more than she realizes.

Accounting for the Pastor is such a fun read. The author does a good job of mixing drama, comedy, and romance. I loved the mix of light-hearted to heavy-hearted. The characters and side characters were interesting and dynamic. The author does a good job at painting the era. There were things that she mentioned reminded me of stories I've heard from relatives, old letters and other books from the time period. I felt like she did a good job of not modernizing the time period and capturing what post-WWII may have looked like. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. The romance was clean and sweet. To learn more about the book, click here.

Please note that I received a free copy to review, however, this is my honest opinion. This post contains affiliate link that help support this blog.

Park Avenue Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

Jia Song has always been destined for greatness. As the daughter of Korean bodega owners, she promised herself that she would have every Fifth Avenue luxury when she grew up, and it is all finally within reach. She has just made junior partner at her prestigious Manhattan law firm, she can count on her two best friends to have her back, and she is about to score the ultraluxe gold-on-gold Birkin bag of her dreams. So, when her boss asks her to sit in on the hush-hush family implosion of a high-level client, she accepts without hesitation―only to find out that it is one of the most famous Korean families in the world.

The Park family’s net worth is estimated at a billion dollars, and their megasuccessful Korean beauty brand has shaped the culture for the past two decades. But the patriarch is filing for divorce while his wife is dying, and their three children can’t stop snapping at one another. With both the family fortune and legacy under threat from the worst kind of scandal, it’s up to Jia to set things right―and she only has a month to do it.

As Jia sorts through the lies and subterfuge, chasing the truth across the globe on private jets, she finds herself falling for this broken, badly-behaving family in ways she can’t quite explain. But it is also becoming clear that the Parks are hiding dark secrets. Can she find the truth in time to protect the Parks’ fortune and secure her success at the firm? And can she hold on to what’s most important, even if it means admitting that what she's always wanted isn’t what she actually needs?


REVIEW
Jia Song worked hard to become a successful lawyer. Her dreams of becoming partner are within her reach especially now that her newest clients are members of one of the richest Korean families in the world. However, she quickly discovers that her newest clients have dark secrets and manipulate those around them for their own means.

I enjoyed this book. The main character was likeable, and I felt like her inner struggles were relatable, balancing between culture expectations and her own, wanting to succeed, and figuring out what success means to her. The story has intrigue and twists and turns. The plot kept the reader interested and I found it to be a page turner and fast read. Overall, it was a fun summer read. Learn more here.

 An advanced copy provided by Flatiron Books. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

A Bachelor's Lessons in Love Book Review

About the Book

Former military officer Edward Halstead never imagined his quiet bachelor existence would be upended by the unexpected guardianship of a spirited young lady. When his late comrade’s daughter, Daphne Price, is placed in his care, Edward is faced with a challenge unlike any battlefield he has ever encountered, especially with her fiercely protective aunt, Felicity Price, staying in his home to ensure he doesn’t fail in his duty.

Felicity has dedicated her life to her beloved niece, and she has no intention of leaving Daphne in the hands of a gruff and emotionally distant bachelor. If Edward Halstead believes he can simply house, feed, and marry off her niece without regard for her well-being, he is sorely mistaken. Felicity will remain at Briarwood House as long as necessary to ensure Daphne’s future and to make certain Edward doesn’t ruin it. After all, she doesn't want her niece to end up a spinster...like Felicity.

With Felicity and Edward at odds over Daphne’s upbringing, propriety, and the girl’s future, tension sparks and tempers flare. Yet, beneath the clashes and differences of opinion, an undeniable attraction grows. As Daphne’s entrance into Society looms and Edward’s past resurfaces in unexpected ways, Felicity and Edward must decide if their partnership is merely one of convenience or if love has been the lesson they’ve both been waiting to learn.

Perfect for fans of witty banter, slow-burn romance, and fiercely independent heroines, A Bachelor's Lessons in Love is a Regency romance filled with heart, humor, and unexpected love. Part of the Bachelors of Blackstone's series, the books may be read and enjoyed in any order.

Review

Edward Halstead is charged with an unexpected guardianship of a young lady. Her fierce aunt, Felicity, arrives with her to ensure she receives the proper care. Edward finds himself at odds with the aunt and overwhelmed with his new duties. As he comes to get to know the aunt, he finds an unexpected romance.

I didn't read the description of the book before diving into it, and I was surprised by the plot as it unfolded. The author does a good job at developing her characters and she doesn't shy away from their mistakes or misunderstandings. It makes the characters come alive and seem realistic. She also uses minor characters to help continue the story forward. It's a fun, easy-to-read, and entertaining read. I was a little disappointed that the series was with other authors. It would have been interesting to see what the author would have done with this as a series. To learn more, click here.

Please note this post contains affiliate links. I received a free ebook copy to review, however, this is my honest opinion.