Tiny House on the Road

A Tiny House Novel #2

by Celia Bonaduce

At twenty-two, Vivien is already a homeowner—albeit of the tiniest of tiny houses, a whopping 64 square footer called “Shrimpfork.” It’s the perfectly portable home from which to run Organization Oracle, Vivien’s new business as a personal organizer. In fact, she’ll be toting Shrimpfork to her upcoming client’s home near Taos, New Mexico.

Seventy-year-old Priscilla has a colorful past, a rambunctious boxer named Clay—and a home crammed with treasures. . . . Priscilla also has a love for the TV program “This Old Thing?” Her twenty-five-year-old neighbor, Marco, is happy to watch it with her—while watching over her. When Vivien arrives, it’s clear she and Marco are suspicious of each other’s intentions. But Priscilla’s determination to get her most cherished possession appraised on “This Old Thing?” soon has all of them grudgingly working together. Vivien and Marco find themselves in cahoots, Priscilla discovers the wider world, Clay digs up trouble—and everyone learns that sometimes the greatest treasures are valued for their flaws . . .

Genres: Fiction, Romance

275 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2018

About the author

Celia Bonaduce has the coolest day job – a field producer on HGTV’s House Hunters. Her credits include other HGTV shows, including Tiny House Hunters, Where Are They Now and ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

If you’re sensing a theme – a love of houses – so did she. After her mother moved into a tiny house of her own, it seemed like a new book series revolving around what it’s like to live in a tiny house was nothing less than providential.

While Celia’s other books – the Venice Beach Romance series and the Fat Chance, Texas trilogy – are anchored in particular places, the heroines of the Tiny House Novels are off to discover life’s big mysteries while living tiny!

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, 64 square feet of living space for you and your everything? I could not imagine. I just helped my friend move from a 3600 square foot house into a 46 foot RV and I was having trouble thinking about that life. I'm sorry, I don't care how much you like the person your living with, you still need space away from time to time. Not that Vivien had that problem as she bought the house for herself and herself only. So she thought. Ha!!

This was a little too cutesy at times, for me, and definitely cheesy throughout, I did enjoy the read though. A fun little adventure that I did find enjoyable.

I loved Priscilla's questions and remarks about the working of cell phones. "Can two people read the menu on Google at once?" Ha!! Although her reasoning did make total sense from someone who had never seen one before.

A great little story that I know because of that little, tiny house, I will not forget.

Thanks to Kensington Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Per me che seguivo con passione un programma sulle minicase fino a quando non è sparito il canale televisivo che lo trasmetteva la parte più bella del libro è quella in cui si racconta come si vive in una di loro. La storia romance non è proprio eccezionale mentre l'altra storia che si dipana nel libro non è male, soprattutto grazie al colpo di scena verso la fine. Concludendo, sono 4 stelle sperando che il volume successivo, se mai ci sarà, migliori ancora.

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Good read giveaway. I thought it was a very good book. I was interesting how the main character in the story used the tiny house in a way that she was able to earn a living. For me personally I could not survive in such a small area, but I know many people are turning to this form of a home.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light,entertaining tale of Vivian, a millennial, bonding with her client Priscilla, a 7o year old while sorting through Priscilla's accumulated stuff. The tiny house aspect of this was charming, especially as Vivian adjusts to life in a very small space. Marco- Priscilla's 25 year old neighbor and friend- doesn't think much of Vivian at first but, well, you know what happens. Putting Priscilla, Vivian, and Marco on the road from New Mexico to California to take an antique doll to an Antique Roadshow type event makes this a chuckle worthy read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A nice positive book!

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Vivien has decided to take her business as a personal organizer on the road. She purchases one of those tiny houses that you can hitch up to your truck and sets off for New Mexico where she will help seventy-year-old Priscilla organize her house. Marco, Priscilla's neighbor, is suspicious of Vivien's motives for going through Priscilla's belongings as he doesn't want his friend to be taken advantage of. Vivien likewise doesn't trust Marco and wonders what a twenty-five year old man has in common with her elderly client. But the two of them are forced to work together when Priscilla is determined to go and have one of her prized possessions featured on an antique appraisal show. This is the second book in the A Tiny House series but can easily be read as a standalone novel.

I thought featuring tiny houses in a book series is a clever idea given they have become trendy in recent years. I also liked how an Antiques Roadshow style program was also featured in the story line. It was fun to read about the different problems Vivien encountered due to the purchase of the tiny house and figuring out how to adjust to this style of living.

I would have preferred a more developed story line involving Vivien and Marco. I thought there was a good beginning and ending but I thought a little more could have been written in the middle so it didn't feel like such a rushed jump to their ending. I also would have liked for the author to explore more of why Priscilla became a recluse. It's easy to see what event in her life led up to it, but I still think it is a topic that needed more explanation.

I'd recommend this book if you are interested in the tiny houses phenomenon and/or enjoy learning the history behind antiques and personal belongings. Even though some parts of the book weren't perfect, it still was a cute story!

I won a free copy of this ebook in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

[Janga · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I had mixed reactions to Tiny House on the Road. Celia Bonaduce is a field producer on HGTV’s House Hunters and has worked on other shows, including HGTV’s Tiny House Hunters and ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Her mother is a tiny house owner. Bonaduce’s experience shows in the details she includes of Vivien’s adjustments to living in Shrimpfork and in her descriptions of Priscilla’s home. These details are a strength of the book. The characterization is more uneven. I loved Priscilla with her long family history, her idiosyncrasies and vulnerabilities, and her unexpected love story, and the young people’s reaction to her colorful past made me laugh. But Vivien became less interesting to me once she arrived in Sandstone, and the relationship between her and Marco seemed shallow and too predictable.

Despite imperfections, the novel was an entertaining read. The second in Bonaduce’s Tiny House series, it can easily be read as a standalone. If you are looking for something that is a bit different with a touch of romance from two generations—a pair of baby boomers and a pair of millennials—you may enjoy this book.


See full review at The Romance Dish:
http://www.theromancedish.com/2018/04...

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

64 sq. feet...that is a tiny house!
I admire tiny houses, so I enjoyed the descriptions of the logistics of owning a tiny house.
Vivien has a business- Organization Oracle, which I also would need the services of. Liked this story-line.
She is starting a new life. The first order of business: Don't Look Back.
When she organizes she says we must determine the Sweat to Glory Ratio.

Priscilla has an addiction with watching "This Old Thing" tv show with her neighbor.
She needs help with getting her house in order.
When these three meet- new adventures begin for all.

I enjoyed this second book in the Tiny House Novels Series.
I am looking forward to reading more. I do enjoy the thought of living in a tiny house.
I recommend.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

22-year-old Vivien has a weird talent for organizing, and enough money to buy a 64 square foot house. After buying her tiny house in Kentucky, she travels across the country to New Mexico to her first client. Priscilla, who has not left her home in years, wants Vivien to find a particular doll in the process of organizing her attic. After the doll is found Priscilla decides she, Vivien and Marco her neighbor, should travel to San Diego to be on a TV show that appraises items for what they are worth. What surprise happens when the star of the show meets Priscilla? I received this book from Goodreads giveaways.

[Kylene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vivien is a new tiny house owner setting off across the country to help Priscilla, an older lady, organize. Priscilla, though, has something else in mind, and Vivien doesn't notice because she's too busy suspecting Marco, Priscilla's grocery deliverer.

Tiny House on the Road was a cute and fun, although it was a bit predictable at times. I really liked the multi-generational friendships, but I felt Priscilla's part of the story could have been stronger.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, the tiny house aspect was an interesting and different storyline. Nice and light read, was a little easy at times to predict what was coming. The intensity of the attachments some of the characters had so soon didn't feel authentic, it just wasn't believable to be so protective and attached to people you barely know.

Received as a goodreads giveaway.

[Darlene Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story that included a tiny house. Not a deep book or earth shattering fiction but a cute love story about old and young people. I like how two very different generations came together for a purpose and there is a cute surprise at the end. Good beach read, vacation read or when you curl up on a Saturday and want to relax with a fun easy breezy read.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute story. I enjoyed all of the characters, and the plot kept me interested with a few surprising twists. Priscilla made the book for me, though. She was by far the most interesting character, and it was her really her story in that her decisions largely move the plot along. Definitely worth checking it out!

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my usual reading interest but I was looking for a change. That said I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I laughed out loud in places and had no idea why Priscilla really wanted to meet the colonel. Well worth the read.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was set in a fictional village near Taos, NM so I thought that I would read it. A quiet read with a fun ending with a tiny house that she pulls from place to place. A fun read plus interesting about the tiny house and how to deal with little room.

[Elizabeth Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Goodreads for the Kindle pre-release of this book. It was a fun read - interesting characters and a surprise ending towards a new beginning for the characters.

[Paul Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an interesting read about a woman with a tiny house and her adventures and ultimately finding the man she loves.

[Macy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable sweet book. I want a tiny house, but cannot imagine letting go of so much of my stuff. Everyone should have a Priscilla in their life.

[Julie Ounanian · Rating 5 out of 5]

64 sq. ft would be too small for me, but I do like the idea of living in a smaller space and having less stuff.

I enjoyed the story.

[Taylor Segen · Rating 3 out of 5]

We're not talking Pulitzer Prize literature, just enjoyable escapism.

[Clara Colt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty adorable, except I really didn't like the Colonel character, so his plot arc felt less believable. Still, I'm a total sucker for these gentle romances.

[Jennifer Mcbride · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, easy read.

[Bibliobabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute quick read, the ending was the best part!

[Connie]

FTC Disclosure: I received this book free from Goodreads hoping I would review it.