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Smitten #3
Smitten Book Club
The century-old Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship is no ordinary book club choice. But for the little book club in Smitten, Vermont, it might be their best pick yet!
The thick, leathery tome Heather pulled out of the dusty cardboard box was definitely coming home with her. Not only was The Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship an appealing curiosity by virtue of its title, but it was also written by Smitten, Vermont,
native Pearl Chambers, a local gentlewoman from three generations back.
Little did Heather know the repercussions this little curiosity would have on her and her friends’ romantic exploits.
When Heather and her fellow book club members begin passing the book around, their respective interpretations are unleashed on their respective love lives . . . for better or for worse. Is it a mystery? An idealist fantasy? An intimation of Jane Austen? As romantic love finds its way to each woman, the Guide proves itself both surprisingly prescient and hilariously irrelevant.
What’s more, a handwritten inscription indicates that the arcane book might hold the only clues leading to buried gold — exactly what one of the members needs to keep her house. How could they not go treasure hunting?
In this remarkable collaborative collection, besties Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter tackle the tale of The Gentlewoman’s Guide by writing for one book club member apiece. Smitten Book Club is a hopeful, hilarious story of friendship and healing, written by friends for friends.
The thick, leathery tome Heather pulled out of the dusty cardboard box was definitely coming home with her. Not only was The Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship an appealing curiosity by virtue of its title, but it was also written by Smitten, Vermont,
native Pearl Chambers, a local gentlewoman from three generations back.
Little did Heather know the repercussions this little curiosity would have on her and her friends’ romantic exploits.
When Heather and her fellow book club members begin passing the book around, their respective interpretations are unleashed on their respective love lives . . . for better or for worse. Is it a mystery? An idealist fantasy? An intimation of Jane Austen? As romantic love finds its way to each woman, the Guide proves itself both surprisingly prescient and hilariously irrelevant.
What’s more, a handwritten inscription indicates that the arcane book might hold the only clues leading to buried gold — exactly what one of the members needs to keep her house. How could they not go treasure hunting?
In this remarkable collaborative collection, besties Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter tackle the tale of The Gentlewoman’s Guide by writing for one book club member apiece. Smitten Book Club is a hopeful, hilarious story of friendship and healing, written by friends for friends.
Audio CD
First published December 29, 2013
161 people are currently reading
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About the author
Colleen Coble
147 books6,453 followersUSAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Arizona. She is the author of dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 6 million books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
August 16, 2014
I really wanted to like this book, especially since it was about a book club AND a treasure hunt...but I didn't. It was one of those books that I had to force myself to finish. The basic premise of the book was good- four friends ( and members of a local book club) each find love and a clue to the treasure's whereabouts. Each friend's story was a separate short story in the book, written by a different author. The problem is every single story sounded the same. Girl gets acquainted with boy ( that she knew previously), they fall in love FAST, there is a misunderstanding where the girl winds up in tears and then... Ta da!...they wind up engaged in a ridiculously short amount of time. In addition to this unbelievable scenario, I was also annoyed by how previous spouses (even ones that died in horrific ways like a young mom being shot over Christmas in a mall??) are kind of dismissed as being non-important. Like when the "hero" tells his new love that despite his wife dying in such a horrific way not even a year ago, he's kinda over it bc things weren't "perfect" before she died. So annoying!
This book was kindly provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was kindly provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2018
Didn't even know this was Christian romance until I kept reading mentions of prayers and GOD. sweet, wholesome, fluffy, and sometimes dramatic collection of stories I enjoyed listening to.
January 9, 2024
I enjoy collections like these with several authors providing the stories, giving me a taste of writing styles that may be a bit different from each other but mesh well enough to harmonize. Once again I'm reading a series out of order, with this being my first read of Smitten, but the coziness of the town and the loyalty of the community members came through strongly. The group of women lead the town as they rally behind Molly in her time of need, and a search for the town's legendary treasure connect the stories as they pass the vintage book to each other in search of clues. Heather, Abby, Lia, and Molly all have very distinct personalities and personal issues they work through while helping the others. The first three were interesting but didn't quite flow with me. My favorite story was the last one featuring Molly, by Denise Hunter, because I love her writing style and felt connected to the emotions of the characters as well as strong tension and chemistry between Molly and Gage. I look forward to reading the other collections to revisit Smitten and get to know more townspeople!
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
September 11, 2016
Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2GGPCCQ...
Review on my blog (to be posted 4/5): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
Smitten Book Club is the third book in the "Smitten" series. I have to say, this has been one of the most unique series I've seen. All of the books are a collection of novellas from four authors with different main characters - and yet there's one central theme/story that binds them together.
For Smitten Book Club, it was Pearl Chambers' book and the search for the legendary buried gold. I think this was my favorite part about the book, as I loved the little bit of mystery it brought to the story. The quotes from "the Gentlewoman's Guide to Love and Courtship" (Pearl's book) at the start of every chapter were fun, too!
As for my favorite novella, that was the last one: Happily Ever After by Denise Hunter. It seemed like the novellas got better with each one: Love by the Book was just okay for me; I felt like it needed better editing, as the story didn't seem to flow that well and was confusing at times. Shelved Under Romance was good and I liked this story. A New Chapter is my second favorite novella in this book; I enjoyed it very much and the only thing that I didn't care for all that much was how quickly things moved in the end - didn't seem believable. As I said, Happily Ever After is my favorite of the bunch. I felt like it was the most complete novella and flowed the best. I really liked that one! :)
Overall, a fun read! If you like contemporary reads, you might enjoy Smitten Book Club.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
Review on my blog (to be posted 4/5): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
Smitten Book Club is the third book in the "Smitten" series. I have to say, this has been one of the most unique series I've seen. All of the books are a collection of novellas from four authors with different main characters - and yet there's one central theme/story that binds them together.
For Smitten Book Club, it was Pearl Chambers' book and the search for the legendary buried gold. I think this was my favorite part about the book, as I loved the little bit of mystery it brought to the story. The quotes from "the Gentlewoman's Guide to Love and Courtship" (Pearl's book) at the start of every chapter were fun, too!
As for my favorite novella, that was the last one: Happily Ever After by Denise Hunter. It seemed like the novellas got better with each one: Love by the Book was just okay for me; I felt like it needed better editing, as the story didn't seem to flow that well and was confusing at times. Shelved Under Romance was good and I liked this story. A New Chapter is my second favorite novella in this book; I enjoyed it very much and the only thing that I didn't care for all that much was how quickly things moved in the end - didn't seem believable. As I said, Happily Ever After is my favorite of the bunch. I felt like it was the most complete novella and flowed the best. I really liked that one! :)
Overall, a fun read! If you like contemporary reads, you might enjoy Smitten Book Club.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
December 1, 2022
Another great book set in Smitten. The treasure hunt thread that connected all the books was fun. I enjoyed each of the stories but the last 2 were my favorites.
May 26, 2018
4 good stories to finish the series. It was fun and easy to read.
April 13, 2017
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jmol4W
The Story:
A long lost gold mine and a book club determined to find it. Oh yes. I love a treasure hunt. The ladies found an old etiquette book on how to snag a man at a library sale and in it's pages are clues for discovering the lost mine. Something they desperately want in order to help their friend who recently lost her husband and is struggling financially.
I really enjoyed this collection. Each of the couples has some sort of history which I like in a novella. Either they'd known each other in the past and were reunited or were currently in each others world (librarian and patron, for example). I liked each set up and thought they flowed very nicely from one to the next. Time with friends, book club, real life struggles, funny moments coupled with serious ones. It was just a nice easy listen as they each tried their hand at deciphering clues and falling in love.
The Narration:
The narrator for this one was Pam Turlow. This was my first time listening to her and oh, I like! Narration was easy and nicely paced. I was in sync with her from the first chapter. I was really nervous about reading an anthology on audiobook and that things would blur too much but it was handled nicely and I was able to follow along and keep track with no problem. I also listened to it in just 3 days which for a 9+ hour book is really fast for me. But I kept sneaking bits in whenever I could because I just enjoyed listening to Turlow. I'll hunt down more of hers for sure.
August 6, 2016
http://pagebypagebookbybook.blogspot....
At the moment, I really love reading novellas and novella collections, so Smitten Book Club, written by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt and Denise Hunter, presented me with perfectly enjoyable material. Each of the four stories – charming and fun in its own way – individually shows a bit of the friendship and romance in the town of Smitten, Vermont and still connects together with the others in a single, overarching narrative. Smitten Book Club is a sweet read – especially with the added humorous nuggets from Pearl Chambers’ The Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship – and I definitely recommend it for a quick, lighthearted read. This is the first Smitten book I have read, but now, after reading Smitten Book Club, I certainly plan on changing that as soon as I can. Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley, I received a digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
At the moment, I really love reading novellas and novella collections, so Smitten Book Club, written by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt and Denise Hunter, presented me with perfectly enjoyable material. Each of the four stories – charming and fun in its own way – individually shows a bit of the friendship and romance in the town of Smitten, Vermont and still connects together with the others in a single, overarching narrative. Smitten Book Club is a sweet read – especially with the added humorous nuggets from Pearl Chambers’ The Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship – and I definitely recommend it for a quick, lighthearted read. This is the first Smitten book I have read, but now, after reading Smitten Book Club, I certainly plan on changing that as soon as I can. Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley, I received a digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2013
Four authors write stories about four girls - Heather, Abby, Molly and Elliana (Lia)- who live in Smitten, Vermont and they all belong to the Smitten Book Club. While telling their stories each author uses excerpts from an old book called The Gentlewoman's Guide to Love & Courtship by Pearl Chambers. Through this book each girl find clues to a hidden treasure and also knowledge of becoming a better woman.
I loved how each story was completed on its own, but also included things from the others book.I also felt that each of these four authors wrote exceptionally well while building the characters and the story flowed smoothly. Reading this book was a real pleasure. I felt like the four girls were my close friends by the end of the last book. I would have loved to be part of the Smitten Book Club.
I loved how each story was completed on its own, but also included things from the others book.I also felt that each of these four authors wrote exceptionally well while building the characters and the story flowed smoothly. Reading this book was a real pleasure. I felt like the four girls were my close friends by the end of the last book. I would have loved to be part of the Smitten Book Club.
January 29, 2014
I really enjoyed this book I just wish each of the stories were longer and maybe their own books. I hated how the endings always seemed rushed. Other than that though I loved this book just as much as I loved the other 2 in the series. I can't wait to see if they write another one because it is such a fun idea and the authors work so well together.
June 17, 2019
If you are looking for a good, curl up on a rainy day, bubblegum fiction type novel...this is it. It is complete fluff, and sometimes that is all you need.
June 28, 2020
Boring
The first two stories didn't seem to have any life or even any resolution to them. The final story was the best. I did not know this was a Christian romance. I felt no spark between any of the characters. It was bland at best
The first two stories didn't seem to have any life or even any resolution to them. The final story was the best. I did not know this was a Christian romance. I felt no spark between any of the characters. It was bland at best
August 9, 2019
Super cute stories. I read this book on the beach and it was a perfect fit! I would definitely recommend all of the Smitten stories. :)
November 19, 2024
I guess I just don't see why this was writteb
February 19, 2014
Title: SMITTEN BOOK CLUB
Authors: Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt and Denise Hunter
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
January 2014
ISBN: 978-1401687168
Genre: Contemporary romance / novella
The century-old Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship is no ordinary book club choice. But for the little book club in Smitten, Vermont, it might be their best pick yet!
The thick, leathery tome Heather pulled out of the dusty cardboard box was definitely coming home with her. Not only was The Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship an appealing curiosity by virtue of its title; it was also written by Smitten, Vermont native Pearl Chambers, a local gentlewoman from three generations back. Little did Heather know the repercussions this little curiosity would have on her and her friends’ romantic exploits.
When Heather and her fellow book club members begin passing the book around, their respective interpretations are unleashed on their respective love lives . . . for better or for worse. Is it a mystery? An idealist fantasy? An intimation of Jane Austen? As romantic love finds its way to each woman, theGuide proves itself both surprisingly prescient and hilariously irrelevant.
What’s more, a handwritten inscription indicates that the arcane book might hold the only extant clues leading to buried gold—exactly what one of the members needs to keep her house. How could they not go treasure hunting?
In this remarkable collaborative novel, best friends Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Denise Hunter, and Diann Hunt tackle the tale of the Gentlewoman’s Guide by writing for one book club member apiece. Smitten Book Club is a hopeful, hilarious story of friendship and healing, written by friends for friends.
SMITTEN BOOK CLUB is the third and final novella collection in the Smitten, Vermont series. This is the last novel that these four best friends will write together since Diann Hunt passed away from cancer.
The first story is written by Colleen Coble. Her character, Heather, found an old romantic advice book called A Gentlewoman's Guide to Love and Courtship and the lives of her and her three best friends begin to change. Heather’s old flame, Paul, came to town and plans to stay, and she begins to learn to trust and love despite his past bad decisions. This was a really cute story. I could relate to Heather and her fear of being hurt again by a man who already hurt her once.
The second novella is by Kristen Billerbeck and stars shy, unadventurous Abby who dresses and lives as if she is an eighty year old librarian instead of a twenty-seven year old one. However, she discovers her father left her a mission before she died- to have an adventure. And in the steady hands of Wyatt, Abby soon finds that she might have more in common with another literary character than she thinks. This one... I enjoyed it, but it seemed more of a make-over type book. Become someone other than who you are to find love. I didn't like that message so much.
The third novella in Smitten Book Club is by Diann Hunt. Lia, is a sweet kindergarten teacher who has a second chance at showing her best friend, Joey, how she really feels. However, he’s hesitant to move past a former loss. As Lia and Joey rekindle friendship, Joey sees the importance of forgiveness, moving on, and trusting God in the wake of sadness and anger. This story was cute, slow paced, but it had a good faith message in it about forgiving those who hurt you. It did seem to end rather abruptly to me--with the black moment and then it's over.
The last story is by Denise Hunter and brings to a close the storyline that underlies all four novellas- the mystery of the gold and where it is hidden. Molly is still reeling from the death of her husband. Her outdoors business is more than she can handle and heading towards ruin. When business competitor Gage offers to help her out, Molly is instantly suspicious but eventually says yes. As they become closer, Molly realizes that she can trust again and follow her own dreams. And this was my favorite story in the collection. Dreamy sigh. I love Denise Hunter's writing.
I enjoyed all four novellas. They were cute, well written, and sweet. If you liked the first two books in the Smitten series, then you will want to read THE SMITTEN BOOK CLUB. $15.99. 384 pages. 5 stars.
April 15, 2014
A great read! Smitten Book Club is the first of the Smitten books I've read. And to tell you the truth the main reason I REALLY wanted to read this book is because of the treasure hunt mentioned in the description! :D Smitten Book Club is set up into four stories with an author writing for the main character in each. Colleen's name is the one that jumped out at me when I first got the invite to this tour. She is a GREAT author and I have come to LOVE her stories!!! Her descriptions are nice and full without being too full and making the book lag. I LOVE these characters and enjoyed the Gentlewoman's Guide to Love and Courtship with it's quirky little advice. I really loved how this first story got the ball rolling!
I had never read anything from Kristin before and I found that I REALLY enjoy her writing! I felt there was one little thing that didn't match up with the story before it about the passing of the book, but after that the second story was great. I actually wish this story was longer! LOL! I wanted more and it seemed to be over too fast! ;) I love Kristin's scenes and I wanted more!!! :D
The third story by Diann was one of my favorites! This is the first from Diann that I've read and I really thought this was a sweet one! From the beginning she had me laughing so hard my sides ached. Her style is GREAT!!! Very expressive and I LOVE the spiritual messages woven throughout! I LOVE the whole plot and all the characters!
Denise is an author that I've wanted to read before, but hadn't gotten the chance. She wraps up this whole journey with a satisfying end! I really love the humor she puts in her story and the whole plot twists are highly entertaining! Denise's writing is very witty and I loved it!!!
Overall the mystery is GREAT and I really like the range of what the book club reads, from Anne of Green Gables to Gone with the Wind!!! This is a very interesting and entertaining read! The only editing that kinda bothers me is "He" when referring to God isn't capitalized, but that's something that bothers me personally. All of these characters and stories are bonded with the same kind of story base. A relationship with a major rift that needs to be fixed and healed. How the authors take this base and grow a unique story from it is really cool! I highly recommend this book and these authors with their amazing range of characters and plots!
Songs: "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" by Chris Tomlin,
"America The Beautiful" by Twila Paris,
"Tara's Theme (Gone With The Wind)" by The Boston Pops Orchestra,
"He Leadeth Me" by The Cluster Pluckers,
"Que Sera Sera" by Doris Day,
"I Need Thee Every Hour" Mike Curb Congregation,
"Forgiveness" by Matthew West,
"Blessed Assurance" by Alan Jackson
"Joy to the World" by Whitney Houston with The Georgia Mass Choir,
"Silent Night" by Martina McBride,
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" Carrie Underwood,
"All You Can Do Is Wait" by Peter Deiwick,
"Mozart: Piano Sonata No.16 in C, K.545 "Sonata facile" - 1. Allegro" by Christoph Eschenbach,
and
"Doumka - Russian Country Scene, Op. 59" by Yuri A. Rozum
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
~ASC
*I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it this in now way affected my opinion and the above are my true thought and feelings about Smitten Book Club. ~ASC
I had never read anything from Kristin before and I found that I REALLY enjoy her writing! I felt there was one little thing that didn't match up with the story before it about the passing of the book, but after that the second story was great. I actually wish this story was longer! LOL! I wanted more and it seemed to be over too fast! ;) I love Kristin's scenes and I wanted more!!! :D
The third story by Diann was one of my favorites! This is the first from Diann that I've read and I really thought this was a sweet one! From the beginning she had me laughing so hard my sides ached. Her style is GREAT!!! Very expressive and I LOVE the spiritual messages woven throughout! I LOVE the whole plot and all the characters!
Denise is an author that I've wanted to read before, but hadn't gotten the chance. She wraps up this whole journey with a satisfying end! I really love the humor she puts in her story and the whole plot twists are highly entertaining! Denise's writing is very witty and I loved it!!!
Overall the mystery is GREAT and I really like the range of what the book club reads, from Anne of Green Gables to Gone with the Wind!!! This is a very interesting and entertaining read! The only editing that kinda bothers me is "He" when referring to God isn't capitalized, but that's something that bothers me personally. All of these characters and stories are bonded with the same kind of story base. A relationship with a major rift that needs to be fixed and healed. How the authors take this base and grow a unique story from it is really cool! I highly recommend this book and these authors with their amazing range of characters and plots!
Songs: "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" by Chris Tomlin,
"America The Beautiful" by Twila Paris,
"Tara's Theme (Gone With The Wind)" by The Boston Pops Orchestra,
"He Leadeth Me" by The Cluster Pluckers,
"Que Sera Sera" by Doris Day,
"I Need Thee Every Hour" Mike Curb Congregation,
"Forgiveness" by Matthew West,
"Blessed Assurance" by Alan Jackson
"Joy to the World" by Whitney Houston with The Georgia Mass Choir,
"Silent Night" by Martina McBride,
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" Carrie Underwood,
"All You Can Do Is Wait" by Peter Deiwick,
"Mozart: Piano Sonata No.16 in C, K.545 "Sonata facile" - 1. Allegro" by Christoph Eschenbach,
and
"Doumka - Russian Country Scene, Op. 59" by Yuri A. Rozum
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
~ASC
*I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it this in now way affected my opinion and the above are my true thought and feelings about Smitten Book Club. ~ASC
February 12, 2014
Review originally published on i blog 4 books: http://iblog4books.blogspot.com/2014/...
4.5 stars
Love by the Book by Colleen Coble
This novella starts the book off well. The town rallies around Molly in her time of need, and I'm interested to see how that story continues to play out later. Heather is a sweetheart of a character, and I loved how giving she was. When Paul comes on the scene, I could see where this story was going, but I enjoyed the journey, quick as it was. Great start to the collection! [4 stars]
Shelved Under Romance by Kristen Billerbeck
Oh, Kristin Billerbeck! I love how her characters are so stereotypical. It definitely adds a bit of humor to the story. :) Abby is the quintessential nerdy, boring librarian who seriously needs a social life. Her friends are so sweet to encourage her to try new things, and Wyatt definitely breaks her out of her comfort zone! The ending is pretty rushed, but I enjoyed Wyatt and Abby's friendship as they learn to look past the obvious to see the true character of the person inside. [3.5 stars]
A New Chapter by Diann Hunt
This novella has so many elements that I love in a story—childhood friends reuniting, kids playing a main role in the story, forgiveness as a major theme! Sigh. As Lia and Joey reconnect, I enjoyed getting to know them and see how their relationship grew out of their friendship as kids. While this was a short story at around 80 pages, it didn't feel short, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact they already knew one another. I also adored Lia's mom and Joey's daughter! Sweet story all the way around. It's hard to choose, but I think this one might be my favorite story in the collection. :) [5 stars]
Happily Ever After by Denise Hunter
After reading a bit about Molly in the previous novellas, I was pleased to finally read her story. I had such empathy for her as she faced one struggle after another. And I loved Gage—a true hero! The final story in this collection is the longest and has the feel of a complete book, though I would have been happy to read about Molly and Gage for much longer than the 120 pages that Denise gave me! [5 stars]
Overall
I've thoroughly enjoyed the previous books in the Smitten series, and Smitten Book Club was no exception! All four authors did a great job including the main characters from the other novellas, and it was fun to continue reading about their stories throughout the other stories. The idea of a book possibly giving clues to a hidden treasure was fun, and I loved the hint of mystery woven throughout the book. With four talented authors contributing to this book, I don't see how anyone could be disappointed! Highly recommended! [4.5 stars]
I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.
4.5 stars
Love by the Book by Colleen Coble
This novella starts the book off well. The town rallies around Molly in her time of need, and I'm interested to see how that story continues to play out later. Heather is a sweetheart of a character, and I loved how giving she was. When Paul comes on the scene, I could see where this story was going, but I enjoyed the journey, quick as it was. Great start to the collection! [4 stars]
Shelved Under Romance by Kristen Billerbeck
Oh, Kristin Billerbeck! I love how her characters are so stereotypical. It definitely adds a bit of humor to the story. :) Abby is the quintessential nerdy, boring librarian who seriously needs a social life. Her friends are so sweet to encourage her to try new things, and Wyatt definitely breaks her out of her comfort zone! The ending is pretty rushed, but I enjoyed Wyatt and Abby's friendship as they learn to look past the obvious to see the true character of the person inside. [3.5 stars]
A New Chapter by Diann Hunt
This novella has so many elements that I love in a story—childhood friends reuniting, kids playing a main role in the story, forgiveness as a major theme! Sigh. As Lia and Joey reconnect, I enjoyed getting to know them and see how their relationship grew out of their friendship as kids. While this was a short story at around 80 pages, it didn't feel short, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact they already knew one another. I also adored Lia's mom and Joey's daughter! Sweet story all the way around. It's hard to choose, but I think this one might be my favorite story in the collection. :) [5 stars]
Happily Ever After by Denise Hunter
After reading a bit about Molly in the previous novellas, I was pleased to finally read her story. I had such empathy for her as she faced one struggle after another. And I loved Gage—a true hero! The final story in this collection is the longest and has the feel of a complete book, though I would have been happy to read about Molly and Gage for much longer than the 120 pages that Denise gave me! [5 stars]
Overall
I've thoroughly enjoyed the previous books in the Smitten series, and Smitten Book Club was no exception! All four authors did a great job including the main characters from the other novellas, and it was fun to continue reading about their stories throughout the other stories. The idea of a book possibly giving clues to a hidden treasure was fun, and I loved the hint of mystery woven throughout the book. With four talented authors contributing to this book, I don't see how anyone could be disappointed! Highly recommended! [4.5 stars]
I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.
January 17, 2014
Smitten Book Club is the third book in a series that tells the story of the charming little town (or village) of Smitten, Vermont. The Smitten community is a caring, close knit one that came together to rescue the little town itself from dying by creating a tourist attraction for romantic get-aways.
In Smitten Book Club the community has come together to take care of Molly and her son Noah who are left when Molly’s husband died as a fireman. But Molly isn’t the only one with a story that needs telling and lives that need mending or completion. We have three other ladies – Heather, Lia, and Abby – who with Molly make up the Book Club. Their newest acquisition in the book club is an old book written by a long ago resident of Smitten who was actually an ancestor of Molly’s deceased husband. This book is the century-old Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship. Not only do our four ladies find clues to love and courtship, there are other hidden clues within its pages. And they go exploring.
This is a contemporary Christian anthology of four novellas. Each tells the story of one of the ladies and is written by a different novelist. Colleen Coble writes about Heather in Love By the Book, Kristin Billerbeck tells Abby’s story in Shelved Under Romance, Dianne Hunt delves into A New Chapter for Lia, and Denise Hunter finishes the collection with Molly’s story of Happily Ever After. And the four authors have done a fantastic work in creating a flowing story with no glitches in characters, settings, or moods.
The overall story is one of community helping and pulling together to help one of their own – Molly. But it also tells how community can be there to help and support each and every member of the community. And since this is about life and how it plays out day-by-day, it also involves romance. Each lady finds love and their stories are sweetly told. I think you’ll find that these are folks you’d like to have as neighbors of your own.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of Smitten Book Club from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. No compensation was received for this review. Opinions expressed are solely my own.
In Smitten Book Club the community has come together to take care of Molly and her son Noah who are left when Molly’s husband died as a fireman. But Molly isn’t the only one with a story that needs telling and lives that need mending or completion. We have three other ladies – Heather, Lia, and Abby – who with Molly make up the Book Club. Their newest acquisition in the book club is an old book written by a long ago resident of Smitten who was actually an ancestor of Molly’s deceased husband. This book is the century-old Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship. Not only do our four ladies find clues to love and courtship, there are other hidden clues within its pages. And they go exploring.
This is a contemporary Christian anthology of four novellas. Each tells the story of one of the ladies and is written by a different novelist. Colleen Coble writes about Heather in Love By the Book, Kristin Billerbeck tells Abby’s story in Shelved Under Romance, Dianne Hunt delves into A New Chapter for Lia, and Denise Hunter finishes the collection with Molly’s story of Happily Ever After. And the four authors have done a fantastic work in creating a flowing story with no glitches in characters, settings, or moods.
The overall story is one of community helping and pulling together to help one of their own – Molly. But it also tells how community can be there to help and support each and every member of the community. And since this is about life and how it plays out day-by-day, it also involves romance. Each lady finds love and their stories are sweetly told. I think you’ll find that these are folks you’d like to have as neighbors of your own.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of Smitten Book Club from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. No compensation was received for this review. Opinions expressed are solely my own.
February 20, 2014
People comes from miles around to the cozy town of Smitten where romance seems to emanate from its quaint and scenic charm. Four young women who have lived in Smitten their entire lives have definitely seen the changes that have come to Smitten over the years. In this compilation of four different stories told by four completely different authors, each of these young women's stories unfolds. Their common bond is the Smitten Book Club where they meet on Friday nights and discuss the book of the week, among other things. Romance appears to be in the air where these young women are concerned, as well as to those who come from far and near to discover the ambiance for which Smitten is known. Is it the charm of Smitten and those who dreamily ride in carriages down the streets through town that affects these young women, or is it destiny that true love eventually blossoms in the hearts of these lifelong residents?
The authors have done a wonderful job of blending the lives of these four women in the town of Smitten. They have obviously worked well together to pull these stories into one amazing novel. Each story is well told with charming detail of both the community and their characters. I feel as if I've been to Smitten through the lives of these young women whose lives have intertwined since childhood, and have seen each other through tough times and happy days. It's a lovely compilation of circumstances and people overcoming somewhat overwhelming obstacles, and helping one another through difficult times to bring one another hope. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories told with imagination and romance. I look forward to reading the other books written about Smitten! By all means, pick up a copy and relax with a cup of your favorite beverage, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through LitFuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.
The authors have done a wonderful job of blending the lives of these four women in the town of Smitten. They have obviously worked well together to pull these stories into one amazing novel. Each story is well told with charming detail of both the community and their characters. I feel as if I've been to Smitten through the lives of these young women whose lives have intertwined since childhood, and have seen each other through tough times and happy days. It's a lovely compilation of circumstances and people overcoming somewhat overwhelming obstacles, and helping one another through difficult times to bring one another hope. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories told with imagination and romance. I look forward to reading the other books written about Smitten! By all means, pick up a copy and relax with a cup of your favorite beverage, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through LitFuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.
January 8, 2014
What a fun read! I have read the previous two books and this one I think could be the best. I like the idea of book clubs and it made this story fun. Not only do the girls meet but they also cook food to go along with their books! So this book, like the two previous is set up as four "stories" yet all of them going together. There is also an ongoing "mystery" that flows throughout the book. My favorite stories were about Abby by Kristin Billerbeck and Molly by Denise Hunter, though all of them are good. Each author has their own wit and personality and I like how that comes across in this book. I also really like the cover on this book, it's a cozy feeling.
The setting is still the lovely Smitten, Vermont which if it was real, I would love to visit.
If you have read the previous books you will love this one, if Smitten is new to you this is a great read! They don't have to be read in order but it does help the story flow better.
I recommend to those who want a light fun read.
Stop by the Smitten Website to learn more about the background.
Smitten Book Club
This book will be released January 14, 2014.
"I received this book from Booksneeze for free in exchange for an honest review."
The setting is still the lovely Smitten, Vermont which if it was real, I would love to visit.
If you have read the previous books you will love this one, if Smitten is new to you this is a great read! They don't have to be read in order but it does help the story flow better.
I recommend to those who want a light fun read.
Stop by the Smitten Website to learn more about the background.
Smitten Book Club
This book will be released January 14, 2014.
"I received this book from Booksneeze for free in exchange for an honest review."
February 16, 2014
I love visiting this town in Vermont, this is my third visit here, and hope for more.
Smitten is now known as the romance capitol, and we are about to embark on four romance adventures, of course, with the help of four writers. Love how they intertwine the stores, and page one seems to end at the end of the last novella.
We start with Abby, and end with Abby, but enjoy the stories of Heather, Molly and Elliana (Lia]. We are reading a side book through out....The Gentlewoman's Guide to Love & Courtship by Pearl Chambers, a long ago author from Smitten. We also, because of this side book, go on a hunt for gold.
I love how there is so much support of each other, and are there whenever there is a need. Whether it be a new dress, or holding one another at a time of grief, or directing another down the right path.
Don't miss this great book, and don't worry if you haven't read the other two, this one is complete by its self. Do yourself a favor and read the other two!
I received this book through Net Galley, and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.
Smitten is now known as the romance capitol, and we are about to embark on four romance adventures, of course, with the help of four writers. Love how they intertwine the stores, and page one seems to end at the end of the last novella.
We start with Abby, and end with Abby, but enjoy the stories of Heather, Molly and Elliana (Lia]. We are reading a side book through out....The Gentlewoman's Guide to Love & Courtship by Pearl Chambers, a long ago author from Smitten. We also, because of this side book, go on a hunt for gold.
I love how there is so much support of each other, and are there whenever there is a need. Whether it be a new dress, or holding one another at a time of grief, or directing another down the right path.
Don't miss this great book, and don't worry if you haven't read the other two, this one is complete by its self. Do yourself a favor and read the other two!
I received this book through Net Galley, and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.
February 10, 2014
Smitten Book Club is the third collaboration about the town of Smitten between these authors. I have only read the second book, Secretly Smitten and I did enjoy that one. These can really all be read as stand alone books, so I encourage you to try the others. The book is made up of 4 novellas. Each one dealing with a different couple, but they are all tied together with the same story arc.
Heather, Abby, Lia and Molly are all close friends who look forward to their weekly meeting with the Smitten Book club. When they find an old book that gives love advice to single women, they also realize that it might hold clues to a hidden treasure. I loved the little snippets from the book. Some of the advice was dated but really funny! The treasure hunt was also a lot of fun. I liked all of the stories equally, so it was hard to pick a favorite. I think readers will fall in love with all of the couples.
If you are looking for a great book to curl up with on a rainy day, make sure to visit the town of Smitten!
Heather, Abby, Lia and Molly are all close friends who look forward to their weekly meeting with the Smitten Book club. When they find an old book that gives love advice to single women, they also realize that it might hold clues to a hidden treasure. I loved the little snippets from the book. Some of the advice was dated but really funny! The treasure hunt was also a lot of fun. I liked all of the stories equally, so it was hard to pick a favorite. I think readers will fall in love with all of the couples.
If you are looking for a great book to curl up with on a rainy day, make sure to visit the town of Smitten!
August 26, 2017
Rating is an average of the first two stories. This one will be a DNF for me, though I liked the premise. I nearly stopped part way through the lousy first story but pushed on to give at least one other author a chance. Unfortunately it was doomed by the combination of lackluster writing and irritating audiobook narrator (seriously though, the female voices sounded like Amy Acker at her most annoying, and the men sounded ridiculously sonorous, as the narrator attempted to use an almost-singing tone to make up for her lack of low pitch). But seriously, the first story sucked hard. The writing itself was insipid and the plot improbable, given the lack of demonstrated character development or chemistry. And what even DID happen four years ago? Were they dating and she wanted to get married and he flipped? Why do we get told everything instead of shown?
The second story was much better written but not enough to convince me to keep going through this project clearly written by a bunch of friends who didn't want to offend each other by editing the literal crap out of the others' stories.
The second story was much better written but not enough to convince me to keep going through this project clearly written by a bunch of friends who didn't want to offend each other by editing the literal crap out of the others' stories.
February 7, 2014
Four book club friends join together to find a treasure after discovering clues in an old book written by a town citizen from long ago. The book appears to be about how to get and keep a man. But it is filled with clues about a gold treasure. Each woman reads the book to find more clues, but ends up falling in love as well.
While technically four novellas, the story flows well enough that it felt like one novel written from four different points of view. The authors did a great job of making the transitions seamless and the characters true to form in each story. I enjoyed the romance, tiny bit of suspense, and history about the town. It was a fun read, and made me want to go back and catch the Smitten book I'd somehow missed reading.
I received this book free of charge from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.
While technically four novellas, the story flows well enough that it felt like one novel written from four different points of view. The authors did a great job of making the transitions seamless and the characters true to form in each story. I enjoyed the romance, tiny bit of suspense, and history about the town. It was a fun read, and made me want to go back and catch the Smitten book I'd somehow missed reading.
I received this book free of charge from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.
February 22, 2014
What a wonderful installment in the Smitten series!
Once again I’ve fallen in love with these authors, the characters, the stories and Smitten.
The four stories contained within this book are rich in adventure, fun, friendship, romance and true love.
I have enjoyed this series so much, as I read, I felt a part of the community of Smitten- it’s a wonderful place to escape to.
This series has truly made its mark on my heart.
I’m not sure if the authors will write more books in the series, but if they do…I’ll be first in line for a copy!
Once again I’ve fallen in love with these authors, the characters, the stories and Smitten.
The four stories contained within this book are rich in adventure, fun, friendship, romance and true love.
I have enjoyed this series so much, as I read, I felt a part of the community of Smitten- it’s a wonderful place to escape to.
This series has truly made its mark on my heart.
I’m not sure if the authors will write more books in the series, but if they do…I’ll be first in line for a copy!
February 5, 2014
Having different authors for the four main characters really gives the book depth of perspective and gives each character her own voice, which is fun. Each little romance had a sweet little meet cute, and while it is indeed unlikely that four friends would find love consecutively, I was able to suspend my disbelief and enjoy this book in just a few days’ time. – See more at: http://gidgetgoeshome.com/#sthash.1Qs...
July 1, 2017
This book was written by 4 different, wonderfully-talented authors, each telling the story of 4 close friends, all belonging to a book club in Smitten, Vermont. The authors wrote about each girl, their unique life stories and their finding love in God's own timing. This is a Christian romance novel, so it is interspersed throughout with exemplary godly virtues. It was a pleasure to read.
I received an e-copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an e-copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2020
Loved this collection of stories centered around a book club in the small town of Smitten, Vermont. Each of the stories focuses around one of the women from the book club, and an old book called The Gentlewoman's Guide to Love and Courtship. Four authors join together to bring each of the women of the book club to life and share their adventures in trying to find love and a hidden treasure. Really liked the audiobook version. Recommend if you like listening to clean Christian romances.
February 5, 2014
The four main characters are members of a book club. The authors write a short and quick romance about one of the women. There are no complex plots here. Quick and simple. This is a pleasant, light novel to read. See my full review at http://bit.ly/1na6AwC.
August 13, 2017
I listened to 40% of this story. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is because it actually does have a story. But it is contrived, sappy, preachy, religious, with shallow characters. Nauseating. I will make sure to avoid this author.
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