The Secret to Hummingbird Cake by Celeste Fletcher McHale- 2016 summer favorite!

It all begins with a mystery man, a secret and a friendship shared by three Southern women in a small town in Louisiana. The Secret to Hummingbird Cake is absolutely delicious and meant to be savored, like a frozen margarita on a hot summer night. Sweet and salty but every sip is delightful. You never want it to end! I was laughing out loud one second and crying the next. After the first chapter I was already looking to see what other books Celeste Fletcher McHale had written (The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories comes out next year!). The friendship shared by Carrigan, Ella Rae and Laine is outrageous and rich and all together beautiful. They met in grade school, cruising through the years with crushes and adventures all the while growing as sisters. The journey you share with them as you learn their story will stay with you long after you turn the last page. The most memorable character is Carrigan. Oh, how I wish I were more like her! Brave, outspoken and all heart, she is the driving force in the sisterhood. The way she meets her future husband is sizzling! And the way he comes to her rescue is swoon worthy!! My favorite character is Laine, though. She lives her life in such an unassuming manner. Looking out for those who are forgotten and often overlooked. She is the champion of the underdog. Brave and strong in her own quiet way. Celeste Fletcher McHale's writing style is an engaging combination of familiarly warm and cleverly humorous. I adored the main characters, flaws and all. They aren't even close to perfect and THAT is where the magic lies. They are friends I wish I knew and I was charmed by the way the author wove their pasts into the present. I'd love to read more about this trio! Perhaps a prequel? I highly recommend this book to ladies who are looking for a magnificent story of friendship, love and gracefully letting go. Prepare to laugh until you cry one minute and then bawl your eyes the next. You'll love every second. Will you learn the secret to hummingbird cake? I guess there's only one way to find out...

*I was given this incredible book by BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*

Dawn at Emberwilde- Secrets, Smugglers and an Intriguing Love Triangle

My Thoughts:

Dawn at Emberwilde, written by Sarah Ladd, is a compelling combination of mystery, myth and romance. I adore Sarah Ladd's writing and I believe this is my favorite book of hers to date! Isabel Creston is a fledgling teacher, on the brink of beginning her career, when an invitation to come live with family arrives. Isabel's parents have passed away and she believes her younger sister, Lizzie, to be her only living family so the letter is quite a surprise. She and Lizzie embark on a journey to live at Emberwilde, an elegant estate that also contains a mysterious forest. Rumors of this dark wood come to light along with talk of the past, which includes conflicting information about Isabel's mother and father. Isabel begins to question what she believes to be true. To add to the confusion, there are two handsome men who are vying for her affections. I really enjoyed the love triangle in this story and the forest of Emberwilde is chillingly intriguing! Beauty, mystery and romance keep the story rolling at a delightfully rapid pace. There truly isn't a dull moment! Highly recommend for those who enjoy period mysteries and romance. Wonderful book! 

{MORE ABOUT DAWN AT EMBERWILDE}

Dawn at Emberwilde(Thomas Nelson, May 2016)

Isabel Creston never dared to dream that love could be hers. Now, at the edge of a forest filled with dark secrets, she faces a fateful choice between love and duty.

For as long as she can remember, beautiful and free-spirited Isabel has strained against the rules and rigidity of the Fellsworth School in the rolling English countryside. No longer a student, Isabel set her sights on a steady role as a teacher at the school, a safe yet stifling establishment that would enable her to care for her younger sister Lizzie, who was left in her care after her father’s death.

The unexpected arrival of a stranger with news of unknown relatives turns Isabel’s small, predictable world upside down, sweeping her and her young charge into a labyrinth of intrigue and hidden motives.

At her new family’s invitation, Isabel and Lizzie relocate to Emberwilde, a sprawling estate adjacent to a vast, mysterious wood rife with rumors and ominous folklore—along with whispers of something far more sinister. Perhaps even more startling, two handsome men begin pursuing Isabel, forcing her to learn the delicate dance between attraction, the intricate rules of courtship, and the hopes of her heart.

At Emberwilde Isabel will discover that the key to unlocking the mystery of her past may also open the door to her future and security. But first she must find it—in the depths of Emberwilde Forest.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT SARAH LADD}

Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for “The Heiress of Winterwood.” She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing family and spunky Golden Retriever.

Find out more about Sarah at http://www.sarahladd.com.

*I was given a copy of this book by Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*