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Summer Dreams
Summer love - those two words conjure up memories for just about everybody. Readers are sure to delight in this inpspirational romance collection, featuring four never-before published contemporary novellas, all set in summer, by such well-known authors as Veda Boyd Jones, Yvonne Lehman, Tracie Peterson, and Kathleen Yapp.
348 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 1997
2 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Veda Boyd Jones
91 books26 followersVeda Boyd Jones enjoys the challenge of writing for diverse readers. She is the author of forty-two books: five children's historical novels, twenty-one children's biographies, three children's nonfiction books, three picture books, nine romance novels, and a coloring book. Other published works include over 400 articles and stories in children's and adult magazines (Cricket, Highlights, Humpty Dumpty, The Writer, Writer's Digest, Woman's World, etc.), articles in reference books, and five romance novellas. Veda has taught writing at Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri, and currently teaches for the Institute of Children's Literature. She and her husband, Jimmie, an architect, have three sons, Landon, Morgan, and Marshall.
Veda is a previous winner of the Writer's Digest Writing Competition in the articles division for a children's profile of Rachel Carson. Her romance novel Callie's Mountain was voted best contemporary in the annual readers' poll by Heartsong Presents a few years ago. Among her awards through the years from the Missouri Writer's Guild are Best Magazine Article, Best Historical Article, Best Adult Fiction, Best Children's Fiction, Best Children's Book, and Best Romance Novel.
Joe's Ghost is now available on Amazon Kindle.
Veda is a previous winner of the Writer's Digest Writing Competition in the articles division for a children's profile of Rachel Carson. Her romance novel Callie's Mountain was voted best contemporary in the annual readers' poll by Heartsong Presents a few years ago. Among her awards through the years from the Missouri Writer's Guild are Best Magazine Article, Best Historical Article, Best Adult Fiction, Best Children's Fiction, Best Children's Book, and Best Romance Novel.
Joe's Ghost is now available on Amazon Kindle.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 28, 2021
When I'm busy, I truly enjoy a good novella. This book holds four--some better than others.
The first revolved around a family feud and the hero standing up for himself--enjoyed.
The second revolved around a mystery man who moves to town--not so much a fan--what kind of mother puts her daughter in danger like that?
The third is from a favorite author, but it's among her early works, I have to guess. Also, I'm a professor so I know how academia works and this is not it. The romance was sweet, but not at all realistic.
The fourth was a good way to end--I like a man who sees past the physical to the interesting woman beneath.
The first revolved around a family feud and the hero standing up for himself--enjoyed.
The second revolved around a mystery man who moves to town--not so much a fan--what kind of mother puts her daughter in danger like that?
The third is from a favorite author, but it's among her early works, I have to guess. Also, I'm a professor so I know how academia works and this is not it. The romance was sweet, but not at all realistic.
The fourth was a good way to end--I like a man who sees past the physical to the interesting woman beneath.
did-not-finish
June 12, 2024I got this on a whim two years ago because it looked fun. I decided to just skip it after realizing it was super shallow with a lot of insta-love. Oh yeah, and the guy in the first story kisses a girl after they've known each other for four hours just because some people are teasing them.
I'll pass.
I'll pass.
September 15, 2012
Four heart-stirring romances, short but enjoyable. Kathleen Yapp (not listed, she was the fourth author)surprised me with her story of an overweight woman.
July 30, 2018
I don't love novellas...too short and not much story. These 4 were enjoyable and quick
July 27, 2021
Cute easy read.
July 21, 2015
Summer Dreams is a contemporary Christian novella collection of four stories set in summertime. None of the authors except Tracie Peterson was previously known to me.
Summer Breezes by Veda Boyd Jones
Recent law school graduate Melina Howard returns home and signs up for a regatta. Her partner in the race drops out at the last possible minute. At the recommendation of an old-timer, Melina asks Blake Allen to fill in the gap. What neither of them realize until after the regatta has started, is that they are on the opposite sides of a feud that began two generations ago. . . .
*I enjoyed reading about a sailboat regatta. However, I didn't feel there was much basis for a romance, especially given that Melina had to work through her prejudices. Rating: 3 stars
A la Mode by Yvonne Lehhman
Heather Willis, a florist who specializes in decorations, has a new client: Tom Smith. Tom, an excellent customer, befriends Heather. However, he seems strangely hesitant to speak about anything remotely personal . . .
*I simultaneously was intrigued by the question of who Tom Smith is and put off by the fact that Heather feels she cannot trust him. I want to trust my hero! Again, I felt there was too small a basis for the developing romance. Rating: 3 stars
King of Hearts by Tracie Peterson
Elise Jost's perfect plans for graduating on time and being hired for the perfect job immediately after are totally messed up by an error by the college. She needs one more credit! She signs up for "Renaissance Appreciation" in the summer semester. Ian Hunter is the professor for her class, and is immediately interested in her. Elise has no room in her life for romance, as she will be moving away at the end of the course.
*I found it extremely unlikely that Ian would want to jump headlong into a romance while still Elise's professor. It's unprofessional, regardless of the fact that he justifies it with his unusual status of a near-guest instructor. I also find it unlikely that any recent college graduate would take kindly to being nagged for a date after expressing a lack of interest! It certainly wasn't all bad, but I was pretty unhappy with this one! Rating: 2 stars (However, it is fair to note that Tracie Peterson books are not my cup of tea.)
No Groom for the Wedding by Kathleen Yapp
Penny Blake is on a honeymoon: her sister's! She's a photographer, taking as many pictures as possible to document this important event. Dave Ramsey, a fellow passenger, is drawn to Penny's smile and zest for life. Penny feels she needs to ignore Dave and focus on the honeymoon, while Dave tries to convince her that she should take some time for herself. . . and for him! Rating: 4 stars
*I liked this one! I liked that Penny was overweight, and Dave never once referred to it in a negative way or suggested that she do something to lose weight. In this story, I felt the romance was more realistic and well done. I will be checking to see if Kathleen Yapp has anything available that I'd be interested in.
Overall rating for this collection: 3 stars.
This is a clean collection of Christian novellas.
Summer Breezes by Veda Boyd Jones
Recent law school graduate Melina Howard returns home and signs up for a regatta. Her partner in the race drops out at the last possible minute. At the recommendation of an old-timer, Melina asks Blake Allen to fill in the gap. What neither of them realize until after the regatta has started, is that they are on the opposite sides of a feud that began two generations ago. . . .
*I enjoyed reading about a sailboat regatta. However, I didn't feel there was much basis for a romance, especially given that Melina had to work through her prejudices. Rating: 3 stars
A la Mode by Yvonne Lehhman
Heather Willis, a florist who specializes in decorations, has a new client: Tom Smith. Tom, an excellent customer, befriends Heather. However, he seems strangely hesitant to speak about anything remotely personal . . .
*I simultaneously was intrigued by the question of who Tom Smith is and put off by the fact that Heather feels she cannot trust him. I want to trust my hero! Again, I felt there was too small a basis for the developing romance. Rating: 3 stars
King of Hearts by Tracie Peterson
Elise Jost's perfect plans for graduating on time and being hired for the perfect job immediately after are totally messed up by an error by the college. She needs one more credit! She signs up for "Renaissance Appreciation" in the summer semester. Ian Hunter is the professor for her class, and is immediately interested in her. Elise has no room in her life for romance, as she will be moving away at the end of the course.
*I found it extremely unlikely that Ian would want to jump headlong into a romance while still Elise's professor. It's unprofessional, regardless of the fact that he justifies it with his unusual status of a near-guest instructor. I also find it unlikely that any recent college graduate would take kindly to being nagged for a date after expressing a lack of interest! It certainly wasn't all bad, but I was pretty unhappy with this one! Rating: 2 stars (However, it is fair to note that Tracie Peterson books are not my cup of tea.)
No Groom for the Wedding by Kathleen Yapp
Penny Blake is on a honeymoon: her sister's! She's a photographer, taking as many pictures as possible to document this important event. Dave Ramsey, a fellow passenger, is drawn to Penny's smile and zest for life. Penny feels she needs to ignore Dave and focus on the honeymoon, while Dave tries to convince her that she should take some time for herself. . . and for him! Rating: 4 stars
*I liked this one! I liked that Penny was overweight, and Dave never once referred to it in a negative way or suggested that she do something to lose weight. In this story, I felt the romance was more realistic and well done. I will be checking to see if Kathleen Yapp has anything available that I'd be interested in.
Overall rating for this collection: 3 stars.
This is a clean collection of Christian novellas.
June 30, 2015
Heartsongs are by no means top-notch literature, but they are usually pretty consistent in quality. However, this one was very lacking. The only similarity in the stories was the summer setting. The lack of interconnectedness made for disjointed novellas that didn't belong in the same book. The writing was weak as minor plot points were constantly repeated. The endings also lacked finality - there wasn't a "happily ever after" but rather a "happy for the moment" feeling to each novella.
June 11, 2015
Love the four short stories. Each was different from the other. I love reading a Christian based book. Easy light summer read. Perfect for when you are busy and need to put the book down and then pick it up again later.
October 22, 2016
I read the first novella Summer Breezes. It was an okay story. Too a little to get into it. I don't usually not finish a book but I tried to read the second novella A la Mode and just could not get into it.
August 6, 2012
STORIES WERE VERY INTERESTING BUT ENDINGS LET ME DOWN =/
February 12, 2014
I loved the four book in 1! Good Christian themed too.
November 20, 2015
I think I read this before...Once was good, but not twice.
March 12, 2016
4 Inspirational Novellas ith all th eromance of a summer's day: Summer Breezes, A la Mode, King of Hearts, No Groom for the Wedding.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews