Curiouser

Girls of Wonder Lane #3

by Christina Coryell

Alexis Jennings spent her entire life trying to do the right thing, until a chance meeting with Jake McAuliffe altered the course of her future. She's been living on autopilot for the last three years, but she's finally ready to move on. With her daughter Bailey by her side, she plans a move to a new state and a new beginning.

Jake McAuliffe had always been the life of the party, before he burned all the bridges that held his life together. When he destroys his closest friendship and his job with one solitary act, he knows he has no choice but to start over. The problem is, there's only one relationship in his life worth trying to save...his relationship with his daughter.

Alexis and Jake have to learn to put aside their differences for the sake of their daughter, but can hope for a new future truly survive when the past follows Alexis out of town?

Genres: Contemporary

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 19, 2016

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Christina Coryell was born and raised in southwest Missouri, where she lives with her husband and children. She had plenty of people tell her that her degree in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing would be useless. They were probably right. Added to her dual major in History, she became the least likely candidate for nearly every career on the planet, save being a writer. That suits her just fine.

Christina has written from the back hatch of an SUV, in a lawn chair while at soccer practice, in the front seat of her car, with kids climbing on her, and often with extremely loud noise in the background. At least half of her books have been written during baseball games.

She believes great fiction mirrors life, and great life contains a little humor, so it's difficult not to sprinkle a little funny business throughout her work. Oh...and character is everything.

She loves hearing from readers. You can find all the ways to connect with her at www.christinacoryell.com.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pick up one of these and then read to the end. I love the way the author ties all the girls together. It's amazing. So fun to read.

[Kathy Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christina Coryell warns her readers in advance that her book characters all have a little ugly in their stories. She believes the flaws are the most integral ingredients to creating believable characters.

Curiouser is Book 3 in the Girls of Wonder Lane Series. It can be read as a stand alone. This is the first book I have read written by Christina Coryell.

Have you ever just wanted to shake someone and tell them to stop listening to their preconceived thoughts and opinions about someone or something? I wanted to do this very thing to both Alexis Jennings and Jake McAuliffe throughout the book.

Alexis Jennings is a single mother in need of a fresh start. She wants to leave the hurt and judgmental stares she receives from the people who attended her father's church. She has not attended the church since the birth of her daughter, Bailey. She blames herself for the difficulties her pregnancy caused her father with the church leading to his resignation as pastor. Unable to handle the guilt she feels whenever she sees her father Alexis decides to leave town. Therefore, she accepts a teaching position in the mathematics department at a Louisville, Kentucky high school.

Jake McAuliffe has agreed to help Alexis move out of town. Over her objections. "You really don't need to come along," she insisted. But Jake "made a promise, and I never break my promises." But now that he has helped Alexis move to Louisville, Kentucky, he is unable to pull himself away from Bailey. So he accepts a job at a local construction company. He also accepts a free lance remodeling job on Wonder Lane.

Alexis discovers she is to prepared for the emotional upheaval she feels whenever Jake visits Bailey. "He never had a piece of my heart, or even a sliver for that matter. Bailey does, though, and I despise the fact that he can have so much influence over our lives." Jake is not prepared for the conflicting emotions he experiences whenever he visits Bailey and Alexis.

Christina Coryell weaves a beautiful tale of forgiveness and grace.

As I read this book, I relived some of the same emotions I felt whenever my ex-husband came to visit my children. I wept with Alexis and I rejoiced with her as she traveled on her journey towards grace and forgiveness. I rejoiced with Jake when he discovered he could allow a certain little girl to reign in his heart.

I highly recommend this book.

*** I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. I have not been given any other compensation, and the thoughts expressed are entirely my own***

[Julie Jobe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story of Jake and Alexis-Christina Coryell has mastered telling the story of God’s redemption and grace in her book Curiouser!

What a beautiful story of grace and God’s redemption with a little humor thrown in for added effect! For Jake and Alexis, hurts from their pasts color their perceptions of themselves and of each other. In this story, we get to see God set them free from those perceptions and realize just how much grace He offers to them. Watching Alexis learn to extend grace to Jake as well as to herself was a bit like a peek into my own story, my own personality. I needed the reminder that I don’t have to be perfect (What a relief because it’s impossible!) and that God has extended such grace to me and He has the power to bring beauty from ashes, to redeem the pain, to not waste a hurt, but use it to bring about good. What an incredible God we serve who loves us so completely and offers us such grace even while we are in the midst of our sin and imperfections! What a blessing to watch God redeem Jake’s and Alexis’ story, to watch them discover their own value and the value of each other as they shed their skewed perceptions of themselves and each other in favor of God’s gracious view. Watching them fall in love was heart melting and seeing Jake become the man God intended him to be was so sweet.

A lot of books I read leave me hanging or without any true sense of satisfaction or joy and contentedness at the end. That is not the case with Curiouser! I’m so thankful for the opportunity to have read it.

**I received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Julie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a wonderful thing when you discover an author you have never read before and your introduction to them is an excellent book, even better when you can read a whole series that they have written. I had that pleasure recently while laid up recovering from major surgery when I read this author's first book, A Reason To Run, the first of five in the "Camden series", it was fantastic and sent me searching for the rest of the books, all exceeded my expectations. Still wanting to read more I moved on to Christina Coryell's next series "The girls of Wonder Lane", I was hooked again and read the first 2 books in 2 days and then was forced to wait until this third book to be published. Curiouser was worth the wait, it tells the story of a minor character from the Camdyn series. ( You could read the "Wonder Lane" books as stand alone books but the stories are richer for "knowing" the characters from the earlier books.)
The story of Curiouser is a romance but not the sickly sweet rainbows and roses so often presented in Christian literature, it shows life in all it's messiness and allows for hurts and betrayal, redemption and grace in a well written, very readable style which will keep you up well past sleep time finishing what I believe is the best book of the series. Highly recommended to all.

I was given an advance copy of this book for my honest review but it had no bearing on my opinion of this book. (I paid for all other books mentioned)

[Susan Snodgrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christina Coryell completes her Girls of Wonder Lane series with Curiouser, Jake and Alexis's story. And a wonderful story it is, too. It's actually my favorite of the series. Jake first appeared in the first book of Coryell's 'Camdyn' series. I love Camdyn best of all! When I read her first book, Christina Coryell instantly became a favorite and an author I knew I would want to watch always. Each book thereafter only confirmed my opinion. They lady has talent, folks. And a lot of it.

Coryell creates characters that pull the reader into their lives and hearts immediately. You hurt for them, rejoice with them and don't want to leave them when the book ends. Seriously. In this book, she pulls at our heart strings in a big way. I've been waiting to hear more of Jake's story and he certainly has a story to tell.

I couldn't put this book down. Literally, I read it in one day. I just couldn't stay away from it. If you've never read anything from Christina Coryell, you are missing out! I seriously do recommend her as an author. Now I can't wait for her next offering.

*I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review. I was not pressured to leave a positive review and all opinions are my own and honest.

[Melissa Wardwell]

Packing up her little girl and moving to a new state, she thought she could avoid the man she hated as much as herself, Jake. (The hunky playboy from The Camdyn Series and the father of her beautiful baby girl) The lessons she learns about herself as a woman and a mother is eye opening. Kind of makes you evaluate your own heart just a bit.

Jake’s journey in discovering the kind of man he wants to be broke my heart. “No one likes to be hated.” He spent his life putting on airs of the kind of guy he was, only to prove he is the total opposite. I love characters like that. His gestures give you a glimpse into the true heart of this Contractor Cassanova.

The back and forth bickering between Alexis and Jake are amusing and have you thinking, “Would you just kiss already!” ( I won’t tell you if they do or not)

As I read through the book, I found myself thinking, “What about Annie? When does she get her turn?” Well, by the end of book 3, Christina has wrapped it all together in a nice little bow. Pulling in all the characters of one more happy event. (I would still love to see a little novella for Annie though. Maybe? Please!?)
**I was given a copy of this amazing book for an honest review!

[Katy Cater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to read a complimentary pre-release copy of Curiouser. After I finished, I wrote a note to the author. Below is an excerpt. (I don't usually talk about my own personal issues in book reviews, but I don't usually write the author either, so I hope that the small glimpse of me gives you a good idea of the impact of Curiouser.)

Christina, I just finished Curiouser and it is wonderful; definitely my favorite of the Wonder Lane novels. I have loved all your heroines so far (especially Camdyn!) and have also identified with them all in various ways, but I feel like in many ways I am Alexis. Our lives aren't completely parallel obviously (that would be somewhat creepy =]); we have different sin and different consequences. Our outlook on life though, our thought processes, the striving to be perfect, not wanting to disappoint people, always following the rules, hiding because we are scared what people will think of the real us…she is so me.
Thank you for writing about grace - both the need to extend it and the need to accept it. Being proud and judgmental is one of my most besetting sins. Thankfully, I'm slowly grasping grace.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curiouser was my favorite book in the Wonder Lane series (even though the others are fantastic as well!) because I got to learn more about Jake. Jake was first introduced to me in the Camdyn series and I was always curious what his story was. I was already invested in a few of the characters so diving right into this book was so fun and familiar.

I also loved learning about Alexis and how the assumptions that she and Jake made, kept them apart for a long time. If only they had talked! I loved watching the story unfold and their love story begin. Towards the end, Jake said that they did things backwards but at least they both ended up getting what they needed and wanted.

I had the fantastic opportunity to read this advanced copy of Curiouser in exchange for an honest review. Please don't hesitate to pick up ANY books written by Christina Coryell. She has never written anything that I have been disappointed in.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Girls of Wonder Lane series. I loved the first two but this one has got to be my favorite of the series. It can be read as a standalone, but reading the first two books in the series will give you some background to the characters, especially Jake. This story follows the relationship between Jake and Alexis, the mother of his child Bailey. Jake wants to rekindle their relationship and be a good father to Bailey, but Alexis is determined that is not going to happen and the sparks do fly between them. Their story also is a wonderful picture of what can happen when God's grace and redemption are allowed in a relationship. I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and Christina has certainly written another one that I do recommend.

[Linda Rainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh!
I get to enter the world of the Girls of Wonder Lane and get to see them welcome Alexis into their group
This book is different because Jake is the hero. I first met him when he was introduced as the best friend of Cole,husband to Camdyn, in the Camdyn Taylor series.
It is refreshing to see how he matures as he starts over.
I love the interaction between Alexis and Jake but Bailey,their daughter grabs at your heart.
We see how God's love and grace and redemption is seen throughout the book.
Thanks for another good book.
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

[Marla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much! I love how the Lord will make the sweetest lemonade if we give him the opportunity, when we think we just have sour lemons. I love the characters and how the Lord worked in their lives even when they didn't realize it. I love all of Christina's books! I was given a copy of the book to read and to provide an honest review.

[Eugenia M. Seybold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellence continues

I'm not very good with reviews, but Christina just continues to come up with such wonderful characters and stories! She's/her books are on my favorites-keeper lists. Heartily recommend all her books to everyone! Thank you Ms. Coryell. Please keep writing for us! God bless you and your family.

[Franky · Rating 5 out of 5]

The girls of wonder Lane is a great series and this is the best by far. I love the hints at Alice in Wonderland. The journeys these characters take make them so real and Coryell excels at characters the reader can connect with.

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, love this series! And this book was one of the best! Well developed characters, great story line....fantastic!

[Kay Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect

A perfectly addicting, clean journey of self discovery and romance. I love all of Christina Coryell's books, and this one was no exception. Perfect!