The Hummingbird House

Hummingbird House #1

by Donna Ball

In this spin off from Donna Ball’s beloved Ladybug Farm series, Paul Slater and Derrick Anderson set about opening the Hummingbird House B&B with their usual style and flair, only to find that they may have taken on more than they bargained for. Despite constant coaching from their friends Cici, Bridget and Lindsay, they don't seem to be able to do anything right. Before they know how it happened, they are at odds with their teenage housekeeper, overwhelmed by a zany spiritualist who seems determined to take over their lives, and, most horrifying of all, on the wrong side of the law.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Romance, Womens Fiction

241 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2013

Reviews

[Lizz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was SO SO happy to have the chance to "visit" with the ladies of Ladybug Farm again and to get to know Derrick and Paul and the rest of the VERY disparate characters. This is a WONDERFUL book people. Yes, you nitpickers are going to roll your eyes at some of the things that happen, but I can honestly tell you that towards the end of the book I had tears running down my cheeks. Happy tears, because things worked out so much better than I had anticipated.

The book seems disjointed at first - all these different story lines about different people in different places, but trust me it all comes together just the way it should.

Now I want y'all to take a moment to notice that I did, indeed, give this book FIVE STARS. That doesn't happen often. Now the long wait for the next Donna Ball book.... but I don't see how she's gonna top this one!

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this as much as her A Year on Ladybug Farm series! If you think you want to put it aside don't everything comes together in the end. I can't wait for the next book to come out.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first books in this series, but this was a disappointment. Not much happened, and the characters just didn't seem as engaging as in the Ladybug Farm books.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in two sittings. I really could have read it in one, but I wanted to stretch it out if I could in order to make it last longer.

The lovely loveable ladies from Ladybug Farm have been helping their friends Paul and Derrick get their Hummingbird House B & B ready to open, but they are now over-worked and exhausted. It is time for some tough love and they tell Paul and Derrick that it is time for them to take on the work themselves.

In comes young Purline. She is outspoken with a no-nonsense personality and she is willing to take on the task of cooking and cleaning as long as Paul and Derrick follow her rules. Then along comes Harmony Haven. She is 60 if she is a day, but she commands attention. It could be because of the bleached-blonde hair, the chiffon scarves, feather earrings and silk caftans or it could be because she claims to be a spiritualist to the stars. At any rate, the two women will get the two men in line or else and Humingbird House will open, by golly.

All of the above are destined to meet Megan who is driving her spirited 97 year old grandmother across the country to find something somewhere. Grandma isn't sure what it is or where it is, but it must be important because it keeps hovering in the background of her dreams.

Also destined to meet up with everyone is Josh. He is down on his luck and not above stealing to get money to make his way to Kansas City. He has left someone behind and is determined to find his way back to her as he once promised. He gets in and out of scrapes and always finds himself meeting up with Artie who is willing to drive Josh in his old 1970's Winnebago to Missouri. He is also willing to forgive Josh for his less than honest behavior.

The story moves back and forth very quickly and the idea that any of these characters are or will be connected is unfathomable. Yet they all have very good stories of their own. Besides, I wasn't worried. I knew that in the end, all would become clear; and of course, it did in a delightful way.

The book was fast-pasted with loveable and real characters. It was whimsical and funny. It was warm and uplifting. It just made me feel good and I needed a "feel good" read at the time.

I had sneaked a look at one of the previous reviews that had rated this book quite low and I wondered why. The reviewer said that it was totally inconceivable that all the characters would have paths that would cross and that the plot was unbelievable. Well, that is the beauty of fiction. Unexpected things can happen...kind of like, oh, I don't know....real life maybe.

The reviewer also felt that there was no message to be had from the rather unbelievable plot. Again, I don't think every book has to have a strict message, especially if it makes you smile or laugh or feel good. However, I did think that this particular book actually did have a message. A message that reminds us that we can overcome obstacles...those real or imagined, those that are a result of circumstances or those that are self-imposed because we are afraid to take a leap of faith and to believe in ourselves. And all the characters had obstacles of one kind or another. They just needed the courage to move them. Read it. Perhaps you will agree with me.

[Lynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A spinoff of Ball's "Ladybug Farm" series...almost all the "old" characters and introducing some new characters...halfway through the book, it's kind of forced, and not so interesting...there are a couple new characters that are just dumped into the book with their own stories and midway through, it's hard to fathom how those characters even will fit into the story eventually...or even if they will. If this is going to be a new series, it will need to get a lot better for me to consider reading any future books.

OK...so all the "stories" were tied up at the end...way too pat. And quite unbelievable.

[Joann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Donna Ball should stick with Ladybug Farm. Did not enjoy this nearly as much. One accident bringing all these different people together??? Not realistic at all......

[Bonnie Eldridge-labaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. This book concentrated more on Derick and Paul. I truly enjoyed this book. It mad me believe with a little faith good things can happen. We are in certain situations for a reason.

[Rebecca Troke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a lousy book. It seemed to be written by someone else, not the person who wrote the Ladybug Farm series. The two main characters are caricatures of gay men. Unappealing, helpless, whining, etc. Women seem to be always rescuing them.

[Kaitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a spinoff to the Ladybug Farm books and at the beginning I was quite annoyed because it felt like the MCs both got retconned to be less intelligent which was annoying. But as I moved forward with the book I could see that the story Ball was choosing to tell was in a different style than the Ladybug Farm books and to me that made it a little more ok to make different character choices.

This isn't the type of book I'd normally choose, truth be told. I'd rather have things come together through hard work, or even kindness, rather than luck or implied divine intervention.

But it did its job. I liked it. I cried a bit. Didn't laugh as much as I usually do with this author. I wonder if the last Ladybug Farm book is also going to be this sappy. I hope the change is more for the spinoff and not just in general.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This slight departure from the Ladybug Farm has Paul and Derrick now owning a B&B, but totally clueless about how to run it. Some of their craziness is laugh out loud funny. Interwoven are two other story lines that slowly reveal how people can fix their past mistakes, choose new paths, and find what they have lost. The Hummingbird House is a sort of nexus that gathers people together and has a garden that produces a fantastic bounty. The guys may have started out as a mess after their new house building fiasco, but, by the end of the book, they are sitting pretty. This was heartwarming and a little different from the Ladybug Farm books, but still retained the comfortable familiarity.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published after book 6 (A Wedding on Ladybug Farm) but events occur before book 6.

Paul and Derrick are settling into the B&B they purchased but have not yet open, except for serving Sunday brunch with cocktails. Unfortunately they are not quite prepared for the labor involved in a country house and they hesitate opening until everything is perfect. They also forgot to obtain the necessary liquor license and are sentenced to 20 hours community service which results in some awkward, yet funny events.

Interwoven are two other stories which will bring all together.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Paul Slater and Derrick Anderson who have been characters in the Ladybug Farm series. Paul and Derrick have bought a B & B but can't seem to stop with details long enough to open it to the public. However they do have a Sunday brunch which causes them to be arrested since they are serving wine without a license. Both of the men have grand ideas but easily get sidetracked so nothing really gets done. The three ladies of Ladybug Farm are in the story. The book was a quick easy read.

[MARGIE KRUEGER · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this authors books. This was such a fun read. It was about 2 men who open the hummingbird house and all the problems they encounter which is very funny. It is also about the story of 97 yr old Annabelle and her granddaughter Megan who embark on Grandma's last adventure together. Then there is Josh whose life is just a mess and he is just trying to get back home and all the things he encounters along the way. Somehow all these people end up at the hummingbird house. I can't wait to read more of her books.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book of multiple stories that seem to have no relevance to each other. There is a 97 year old grandmother and her granddaughter off seeking adventure. There are two partners who left the big city to stat a B&B in the county and are far over their heads. There is a almost Harvard grad who has taken many wrong turns on life who connects with an eccentric man traveling across the country and many more very lovable characters. You will get wrapped in all their stories and be inspired by each of them. This could be a great book club read or a vacation book.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really a spin-off of the Ladybug Farm series, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This one centered around the two male friends of the woman of Ladybug Farms and their opening of their B&B. It was a fun enough book and I don't recall any profanity or sex. However, the "coincidences" that occurred were too far-fetched for me. Others might think it was charming, and in a way it was, but there was a bit too much of that for me.

[Lori Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

After I finished the Ladybug Farm series, I thought this would be a good one to read next. Loved having the ladies from the farm in this book while learning more about Paul and Derrick. I wasn't sure where the storyline was going when it involved at least 3 different stories that didn't revolve around the men and Hummingbird house. Was totally surprised how everything fell into place towards the end.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed each one of Donna Ball's Ladybug Farm series and was anticipating an equally enjoyable series of The Hummingbird House and following Derrick and Paul's adventures. Sadly, I was very disappointed in this. The story was too forced and contrived. The ending was just too convenient. And I was especially disappointed that Darrick and Paul's characters were portrayed as stereo typical gay characters rather than 2 smart men with goals, intelligence and integrity. They continually whined and pouted.
I really hoped to enjoy The Hummingbird House, but I did not.

[Marseydoats · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! Paul and Derrick are delightful in all the previous books, but they were so terrible at the beginning of this book I was really disappointed in them. They do redeem themselves though. Adopting all the animals from the shelter who were on "death row" was a wonderful twist to the story. Have kleenex ready for the end!

[Sandra Kent]

Oh my gosh! This was so GOOD. The gals from the Ladybug Farm series play a minor role because it is all about "the boys". Their newly remodeled B & B is ready for a celebrity open house. The craziness ensues plus two other stories are interwoven. Delightful mayhem and characters aplenty. Can't wait to read the next story

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Every charcter was so interesting and I enjoyed the improbable coincidences immensely. The author's style was very easy to read. Can't wait to read more of the adventures at Hummingbird House.

[Judy Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure in the beginning with these new characters, but decided to keep reading. It had the same loveable funny parts, and the food of course always sounds delicious. The closer I got to the end I finally started to put pieces together. Love certainly works in mysterious ways.

[Ms.Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My bad for expecting more of Ladybug Farm, still enjoyable just not what I expected, which I'm not really sure what, the guys were ok maybe just being a woman i felt more of a connection to the LadyBug ladies...still a good read

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wonderful Hummingbird House

This book was confusing at first but I knew there was a reason for the confusion and I was right. It was a very well written and intriguing book. To put it mildly, I loved it. I personally loved the entire Hummingbird Series.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Okay. Sweet, mildly funny, happy ending, but kind of boring.

Probably a good Young Adult book. No sex or violence.

Donna Ball's series about Flash, the Border Collie, is much better.

[Pamela J Pinkham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this quick read. New characters bit of a mystery.

[Janet Friesner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reading

Loved the Ladybug Farm Series but wasn't sure if I would like the spinoff series, but thought this first book was extremely good.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I did not like all of the side stories that did not center around The Hummingbird House, but in the end it is what made the book. Saddened to have this series end.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories within a story. I thought it was a very good book.

[Kathy Govreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!!!! The characters were delightful!

[Denae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading about the different characters and story lines in this book, quick and easy read, with some twists and turns along the way...