Laura Wilson è tornata a Blueberry Beach, affrontando una misteriosa malattia che ha esaurito le sue energie lasciandola apatica e incapace di godersi la vita.
Lavora part-time nel negozio di suo nonno quando uno sconosciuto misterioso affitta il piccolo appartamento sopra il loro. Lui è forte, atletico, bello e pieno di vita ed energia. Fisicamente non potrebbero essere più diversi, ma si legano mentre entrambi assumono maggiori responsabilità quando la salute del nonno peggiora.
Decideranno che fornire ricordi preziosi alle centinaia di clienti nella piccola vecchia bottega è abbastanza per costruirci un futuro?
I've loved every Blueberry Beach novel that I've read! Jessie Gussman has a talent for creating characters who come alive and draw you into their lives and situations.
Laura, who was mentioned in passing in the previous book as a childhood friend of Zoriah's who might be returning to Blueberry Beach, is the heroine of Precious Memories. She has, indeed, moved back to her hometown to live wiith her grandfather and help paint the custom ordered figurines that he carves and hand-paints himself for his customer in his Main Street shop. She's also trying to recover emotionally from a nasty divorce from a cheating, self-absorbed husband and to recover physically from exhaustion caused by the divorce. She goes upstairs to confront a noisy neighbor and is surprised by his apology, his admission of causing a problem, and of course his good looks and toned, "I established gyms and sold them for a huge profit" body.
Laura doesn't want to get burned again by a man who seemed trustworthy but wasn't, so she's reluctant to act on or even admit to her attraction to the neighbor, Dwane. He, however, has no such reservations and finds ways for them to spend time together. A chance phone call informs Dwane that he has a ten- year-old daughter, and the news prompts him to drive two hours... with Laura, whom he's invited in order to set his daughter Lizzie at ease...to pick her up from her grandmother and take her home with him. (Lizzie is the product of a fling he had in Chicago before he started "living for the Lord", in his words, and he's determined to do right by her. Lizzie's mother, who is now moving from man to man, doesn't seem interested in Lizzie, and reminds me of Ariana's mother in Jennifer Peel's Return to Sender.) True to her naturally generous character, Laura invites the crabby, bitter grandmother to move with them to Blueberry Beach and receive first-class care for her pancreatic cancer. It helps convince Lizzie to leave with Dwane and Laura. After going through so much together, Dwane and Laura confess their feelings and decide it's time to get married and move their suddenly expanded family (including Laura's two daughters, Dwane's daughter, and Lizzie's grandmother) into a house by their old apartments.
Gussman's characters pulled me into their lives and left me rooting for them. If you read any Jessie Gussman novels, you'll have the same experience and will want to recommend it to everyone!
This book is a clean, inspirational romance. How many times have we thought our lives have become too stressful, too emotionally stagnant and draining? That we have lost sight of what is important, and have lost faith in God and ourselves? This is what has happened in both Laura and Dwane’s lives.
Both Laura and Dwane have both come to Blueberry Beach to start their lives anew. Laura has returned with her two young daughters, to live and work with her grandfather after her recent divorce. The stress of the past year has left her physically and emotionally exhausted, but she hopes that living in her small hometown again will help her to heal and move forward in life. Dwane has recently moved to Blueberry Beach because God has guided him to do so. He is single, never married, and has recently sold his business. He believes that life in this small town will give him time to think about what is important, to find more in life than just running and building a business. He is renting an apartment above the small shop that Laura’s grandfather owns. It isn’t long before Dwane becomes an employee at the shop and a friend. The friendship between Dwane and Laura blossoms, and both begin to look forward to being in each other’s company. When Dwane is thrown for a loop after an out of the blue phone call, it is Laura and God that he turns to for guidance. It soon becomes clear to both Laura and Dwane that though their pasts have been troubled, God guided them both to Blueberry Beach at this time, and to each other.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Precious Memories is a story of different kinds of love. The love of a granddaughter for her grandfather. The love of a granddaughter for her ailing grandmother. The love of a mother for her children. The love of a dad for a new daughter he didn't know he had. And a love of a man for a woman. People seem to never really leave Blueberry Beach. When they leave they just lose that hometown feeling and need to move back. After the divorce Laura went through, she was ready to bring her girls, Grace and Alessandra back home to her grandfather who helped raise her. He was happy she was back and she picked up her old job painting his carvings. But, when Laura came home she was sick. After just awhile in Blueberry Beach and being with her grandfather and friends she began to feel better. Especially when she meets their new neighbor Dwane. He was everything her ex husband was not. He had a 10 year old daughter that he just found out about. He is going to get her as he takes his responsibilities to heart. Lizzy doesn't want to leave without her sick grandmother that had raised her. Laura decides that would be fine as she knew Dawn didn't need to be alone and Lizzie didn't want to leave her alone. Laura believes in family and love. Dwane believes that he has found the love of his life, and people to call his family in Blueberry Beach.
Jessie Gussman has done it again! You may think Laura’s initial situation is a little far-fetched, but thirty-two years ago that was me. My marriage fell apart, l could no longer work and was unable to drive because I would get in the car then not know where I was going. Thoroughly exhausted, I could barely get up, but I had two young children and took care of them as best I could. Fortunately my church family helped me in that department, as did friends and neighbors. Unlike this quick turn around for Laura, my time was more stretched out, but I trusted in the Lord and he led me to a new job in a new city, a new house and ultimately to the most wonderful man of integrity (and a whole lot more) to whom I have been married for twenty-seven years.
I am so enamored with Jessie’s skillful storytelling. Her characters become new friends that you care about. Life “happens” to everyone but the important part of life is how you handle the challenges. Jesse offers some insight into how people with faith might react.
She helps you think and feel, unlike so many other authors. Fortunately I am on her ARC team and am blessed to receive an advanced copy before publishing. My reviews are always my personal thoughts.
Blueberry Beach is the setting for a broken woman, whose heart has been so shattered she is nearly unable to cope with even the smallest of things, and a man who felt the Lord's leading to move there. Not sure of his next step, Dwayne is not afraid to take any job no matter how temporary or humble. As Laura begins to heal, the people in the community rally round and create a warmth that provides a stable background for her and her daughters. When another young girl and her grandmother appear we see the creation of a loving family on the horizon. Dwayne has had issues in his past, and the author shows us just how far he has come in his ability to balance everything he finds himself involved in since his arrival at Blueberry Beach. It doesn't take long for him to realize that he is there for Laura. The book describes the hard time Laura had, but portrays real hope as the story progresses, and ends with joy and a strong hint of another book set in this delightful town. Although this is book 4 in the series it was my first. I promptly read the previous three!
Have you ever finished reading a book and had that little glow and aaaah feeling? Well that’s how I felt long after finishing this book. Laura was totally blindsided when her husband left her for his secretary and also took the thriving business they had built together. She and her daughters went to live with her grandfather in Blueberry Beach as she was physically and emotionally unable to function. Dwane had been bought out by his business partner after they had different visions for their company and had been felt led by God to come to this same small beach town, renting an apartment above Laura’s grandfather’s specialty carving shop. Dwane wasn’t always the man he is now and his past is going to impact his present. Jessie in her signature way gently leads you along and inserts gems of wisdom along the way as she tells a fantastic story. She tackles hard subjects with grace and tact, inserting Christian values as a way of life and action rather than lecture or judging. She is one of my have to read authors. Clean and wholesome.
Another 10 star read by Jessie Gussman that will have your heart and pulse rate bursting! This story of Dwane and Laura has everything to keep the reader totally engrossed for the duration of the book. As always an intriguing storyline that grabs you right off as this beautiful story unfolds chapter after chapter. A heart and soul broken woman, a single man that has followed God's will by moving to Blueberry Beach, a man that has spent his life carving beautiful keepsakes for tourists, add in 3 sweet young girls and a grandmother fighting pancreatic cancer and you will have a story to wrap around yourself on another touching journey to see the wonderful people still living in this idyllic little community on the shores of Lake Michigan. Promises of more stories to come in the touching epilogue will have you smiling.
I received an ARC copy of this book and this is my voluntary and honest review. VICKI FROM WYOMING
In this audiobook, we are back in Blueberry Beach and this time the story belongs to Laura Wilson and the new town’s resident , Dwane Hardy. Laura and her two young daughters have returned to Blueberry Beach not only to help her grandfather, but also to recover after her health deteriorated due to stress and a divorce led them to start a new life. Dwane has found the Lord and after selling his business, was led to this small town. They meet when Dwane, her grandfather’s new tenant, starts playing loud music which irritates the grandfather. Though at first Laura was less than friendly, Dwane’s apology made an impression. Dwane is smitten but Laura’s trust in men will be hard to overcome. This was a story about finding God, dealing with real life issues like divorce, stress, insecurities, physical and emotional pain, as well as finding love when one least expects it. Another engaging story in this series. As usual, the narrator did a very good job in his delivery.
Laura Wilson is back in Blueberry Beach, dealing with a mysterious illness that has depleted her energy and left her listless and unable to enjoy life.
She's working part time in her grandfather's shop when a mysterious stranger rents the small apartment above theirs. He's strong and athletic and handsome and full of life and energy.
They couldn't be farther apart physically, but they bond as they each take on more responsibility as her grandfather's health declines.
Will they decide providing precious memories to the hundreds of customers in the little old shop is enough to build a future on? Narrator : Jay Dyess
she is divorced, her husband cheated on her. she moved with her 2 young daughters to her grandfather in blueberry beach. he has a shop, he whittles and she paints them. she is tired all the time and the drs cant figure out whats wrong
the renter upstairs is a single man . he gets a phone call saying he is the dad of a 10 yr old girl who needs him to raise him as her grandma is sick and her mom doesnt take care of her. he is going to pick her up. he sold his gyms and has money but is working pt in the shop downstairs
she went with him to get his daughter and suggested they bring the sick grandma too so they did they told each other they loved each other, got married , bought a house and combined their kids. he said he would pick up his daughters dog from the pound on the way home, but it was never mentioned again
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Sweet and Clean Lake Michigan Romance This book is the fourth in a series, but in many ways, it seems to be opening the door to either more books in this series or a new series. This novel is a sweet and clean romance that is faith-filled. One gal is trying to regain her health after her husband dumped her and her children for a younger version. There is a man who is trying to be receptive to what God asks him to do and had been on his faith walk for seven years. There is a young girl who was raised by her grandmother who is now dying when her father steps in. Lots of action in this Lake Michigan beach town. This is a fine book, but it opens more doors and asks more questions than expected. Maybe there are more Blueberry Beach stories yet to come.
I really liked reading this new book set in Blueberry Beach, Michigan. because it is a close knit community with wonderful, caring characters that will go out of their way to help one another. I was also very intrigued to find out why Dwane felt the Lord had led him to sell his business and move to Blueberry Beach. I liked that Blueberry Beach seemed to be a place of healing for the characters and I have enjoyed reading about their lives and unique circumstances. This book was romantic and inspirational and I really liked how the characters grew and learned to overcome obstacles and stumbling blocks to become stronger individually as well as together. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
I loved this latest installment from the Blueberry Beach series. Laura and Dwane had recently moved to Blueberry Beach—Laura was moving back home after a divorce from her cheating husband and Dwane was a newcomer who wasn’t sure why he was there except he felt the Lord was leading him. Laura was not looking for romance but she found herself surprised by her changing feelings and Dwane was also surprised by some developments from his past before he became a Christian. This was a sweet romance set in an idyllic community. I’ve loved the time I’ve spent there and the characters I’ve met. This story kept my attention and left me feeling satisfied. Highly recommend! I received a copy of this book from the author and this review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
Laura is exhausted, stressed, and emotionally spent after her divorce. She's living with her grandfather and two daughters. She has just enough energy to work part time for her grandfather. Dwane is physically fit. He's led to Blueberry Beach by following God's promptings. Dwane rents a room above Laura's grandfather's shop, and takes a part time job working for him. I'm amazed at the simple, life events that bring these two seemingly opposites to each other and inspired at what keeps them going on the same path. Jessie Gussman is so great at making every day seem extraordinary in this new book. And these characters fit in with everyone who lives in Blueberry Beach. A great read!
Precious Memories is a book about taking chances and the power of family. Laura is wounded and weighted down with disappointment after her husband left her for another woman. Dwane is in Blueberry Beach for reasons yet unknown—the Lord said come, and he listened. Could it be he’s there for Laura? Or is there something bigger in play? I love the way Dwane connected with Laura’s daughters and her grandfather. Family connections come in many ways and this book brings together a wonderfully unlikely group of people. There might just be an intriguing teaser at the end. I received an ARC courtesy of the author. This is my honest review.
What a fantastic series this is! A Jessie Gussman book is always such a wonderful story! The descriptions of Blueberry Beach make the town so real that you can imagine walking down the street. Her characters face real life situations like Laura’s divorce and a child Dwane didn’t know about. These situations are dealt with faith as the lead. This can be read as a stand-alone but why not start at the beginning to meet all the interesting residents of Blueberry Beach? I received an advance copy of this book from the author, however, I voluntarily wrote an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
Laura and Dwane both had been through the business grinder, Laura coming out worse than Dwane. Her husband cheated not only on her but with the business, claiming it was all his even though she was half investor. He gas lighted her making her think she was worthless and at the bottom if her troubles, divorced her and took most all the money. Dwane's business partner only used him to get what he wanted then dumped him for bigger dreams taking or buying out Dwane's half of the company. Together Dwane gave Laura the strength she needed by recognizing her and her value and kindness. Beautiful story.
Jessie Gussman is such a poignant writer. She uses REAL LIFE for her characters to illustrate the beauty of Christ's love. I have found that all of her books focus on the Corinthians kind of love, mercy and grace. Most often, her books have another theme to them. In Precious Memories, Jessie illustrates something I have to struggle with. It's easy to follow Him when we know why but so very often, His ways are not ours and we lack the capacity to even begin to understand them. The difficult thing is continuing to believe while following His lead at the same time you're being still and waiting.
Jessie's books are edifying. I would say they are also light reads, but she does tackle difficult topics. Bad things happen to the characters or because of their choices, but there is redemption, grace, and forgiveness. She weaves in truths about how we should leave as Christians, which serve as reminders as I listen along.
I've listened to her books on YouTube "Say With Jay." He's a great narrator, even for the women's voices. It's the type of book that you can listen to while doing something else. Any can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend starting the series in order as several connect characters and places.
Jessie Gussman just keeps getting better and better. These stories based in Blueberry Beach are so inspiring with amazing characters and a storyline that grabs your emotions from the very beginning. “Precious Memories” is no exception. Laura has been through so much stress with her husband’s infidelity and the dissolution of her marriage, while Dwane has relocated because he felt that’s where God was calling him to be. Will they be able to overcome the problems in life and open their hearts to God’s second chances?
Enjoyed Dwane and Laura's story. Divorce had taken the very life out of Laura's soul, so she moved back home with her Grandfather to give her girls the childhood she had and to find a simpler lifestyle. Dwane had moved in the apartment above Laura's Grandfathers shop. He didn't know why he was at Blueberry Beach, but he felt God directing him here. I read this book in a day. I wanted to know how everything turned out. If you like clean, inspiring stories, you will enjoy 'Precious Memories'. I received this book from the publisher. The thoughts and comments are my own.
Blueberry Beach is the small town many people dream of and Dwane and Laura’s story really pulled me in. The emotional rollercoasters they were dealing with made their situations were very relatable and real-life. As they gave their troubles and cares to God they received the strength and faith to deal with them and also a second chance at love. I received an advance copy of this book but my review is honest and voluntary. This series is excellent reading but also delivers good lessons in faith and trust. Thank you, Jessie Gussman!
I love the stories that this writer, Jesse Gussman, produces. This book is no exception. The characters seem like people in your neighborhood, as well shop owners you deal with every day. A quiet, beautiful little town next to water. Just the name of the town is peaceful: Blueberry Beach. It is somewhere I’d love to live. This is the relationship of a man and woman with children and families of their own and how the Lord brought them together to become one solid family. I highly recommend this book to all ages. You’ll love it! *** I received an advance reader copy for my honest review of this book.
I enjoyed the story - a clean & inspirational read. The kind of romance you don't mind your daughter reading with a sprinkling of faith. The story is fast paced, taking place over short time frame but is still believable. It can be read as a stand alone book and you don't need to read the prior books in the series for this story to make sense. Although the main story line does conclude in this book, there are some portions of the story that do not. This does not detract from the story though or leave a sour taste.
* I received this book as an ARC for a voluntary and honest review.
I really love Jessie's books; she seems to have a knack for taking real life situations and putting them in a story. Divorce is never easy even it is the only right thing to do. It is really similar to a death in the family. You feel like you have lost all those years and you have nothing to show for it; although in Laura's case she had her girls. I love the fact that Dwane followed God's guidance and that all ended well. It's a great story and I urge you to read it if you haven't already. Great characters, story and setting. Well done Jessie.
I am enjoying this series by Jessie Gussman. I love the small town trope. It is also about mature adults who may have been knocked around by life, but they are dealing with it as best they can. Laura learns the lesson that sometimes that means being kind to yourself, accepting others' help gracefully, and resting. And sometimes it means doing for others. I was also intrigued by how Dwayne was willing to trust and follow and wait for what God was going to reveal to him for the next stage of his life. I read an ARC of this story, and I'm happy to offer this honest review.
This was a good story. Laura was depressed, easily fatigued, and trying to recover from her husband and she divorced. Dwayne had his story rented to apartment above their store. Laura, her dad and two girls were trying to eat supper. The music was so loud in the apartment and the other noises . She went up stairs, to ask him he would cut the music down some. Dwayne started talking to her and stated he would. Just the beginning of their happy . You will enjoy
Gussman has a knack for creating complex, real-world characters. She gives those characters real-world heartaches and problems, then she shows her characters dealing with those problems with faith and grace. Her characters face divorce, death, infidelity, neglect —not light fluffy subjects, but raw pain and regret — and travel from despair to hope. Gussman’s love stories end happily yet, like real life, that doesn’t mean all the problems have been neatly resolved, it just means they’ve been bound by faith.
This is a good addition to the Blueberry Beach series. Dwane has moved to BB upon selling his business to his ex business partner. He felt the call of God to establish himself in BB. Laura has moved back to BB after a divorce with her 2 daughters because of her health and to help her aging grandfather with his store. Dwane helps Laura and she helps him in return with various obstacles that seem to arise. Can Laura heal from her previous marriage and learn to trust again?
After her divorce and with her health deteriorated, Laura moves back to Blueberry Beach with her daughters. Working alongside her grandfather and the slower pace of Blueberry, is exactly what the doctors prescribed. She is physically exhausted from all the recent stress in her life. She is hoping to heal quickly, but hasn't yet.
Dwane has moved to Blueberry Beach on blind faith in the Lord. He wasn't expecting to meet the woman of his dreams and definitely had no idea he has a daughter of his own. Can he really have all of this? ~