Friday, June 7, 2013

Review: That Certain Summer

That Certain Summer by Irene Hannon

Publication Date: June 1, 2013
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Imprint: Revell
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0800722493
ISBN-13: 978-0800722494

(Received for an honest review from Revell)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, ChristianBook, IndieBound

Irene Hannon on the WEB: WebpageTwitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Excerpt from That Certain Summer, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

Two very different sisters . . . an unexpected homecoming . . . one unforgettable summer
Karen and Val are family--yet they're anything but close. Karen has carried the burden of responsibility for her aging mother ever since her sister left town years ago to pursue a career in theater. But Val had other reasons for moving away--as well as a secret to keep--and coming home has never been an option . . . until their mother suffers a stroke.

Reunited in their hometown, Karen and Val must grapple with past mistakes as they care for their ailing mother. When two handsome men enter the picture, the summer takes on a surprising new dimension. As their lives intersect, can each of them learn how to forgive, let go, and move on? And strengthened by the healing power of faith, might they also find the courage to love?
With her trademark compelling characters and heartwarming hope, award-winning author Irene Hannon pens an inspiring true-to-life tale of complex relationships, the search for forgiveness, and the life-changing process of finding love.

Thoughts:

Christian romantic suspense author Irene Hannon brings reader a different kind of reading experience with her latest title, That Certain Summer. Hannon branches out with her newest offering, giving readers a look into the complex relationships between sisters. Hannon provides heart-warming characters, a bit of romance and as always a message of hope and faith that shines in every book she writes.

Irene Hannon is most usually known for her intense Christian romantic suspense novels. She has two series' that I am particularly fond of, The Heroes of Quantico series and the Guardians of Justice series. But her latest novel, That Certain Summer is a departure from her normal riveting, suspenseful style. Hannon uses a more relaxed approach with this book giving readers a chance to see that she can write more than just suspense. 

The relationship between the two sisters, Val and Karen is written with such detail and care that readers will find themselves nostalgic with memories of their own family members and situations where forgiveness and understanding were needed. Hannon does a wonderful job of expressing the kind of responsibility that care-givers are faced with when caring for an ailing parent. She does not show it as a burden, but as a kind of joy. I loved the way she allowed readers to see into the hearts of these two women, what they needed from each other and from themselves.

Hannon's trademark romantic style sits well with this story as well. Both women are not only looking to each other and God for wisdom as they deal with their mothers illness, but they are also starting to have romantic feelings toward the two new men in their lives. The combination of faith and romance has always intrigued me and I think that Hannon shows that both have their place and that together they can make something beautiful. I liked the romantic aspect of the book very much and I thought it played well against the message that Hannon was trying to convey. Faith and love and the greatest of these is love...

I look forward to seeing Hannon write more titles that are not necessarily suspenseful. She proves with this book that she has the scope and versatility to pull if off with grace and style. I can't wait to see what's next from this author.

Available June 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




About the Author:


Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of over forty books, including more than two dozen contemporary romance novels and the Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have garnered many honors, including two RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, and two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. In addition, Booklist included one of her novels in its "Top 10 Inspirational Fiction" list for 2011. She lives in Missouri.

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