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New Americana #7
Blue Moon Haven
Fans of RaeAnne Thayne and Susan Mallery will adore the heartwarming new romance from the New York Times bestselling author, filled with the healing power of love and the enduring allure of the drive-in movie theater, as a woman who puts down new roots in a small Alabama town finds a relationship unexpectedly blooming.
Kelly Jenkins heads to bucolic Blue Moon, Alabama, believing a new life will heal the two orphaned children in her care. Signing on to revive the drive-in theater seems like a worthy venture, until she discovers the property is in deep disrepair. Still, spurred on by the elderly owner’s plea, Kelly takes on the renovation, beginning with an ancient tree that needs to come down—and unexpectedly bringing on the wrath of her reclusive neighbor…
Seeing Kelly take an ax to his little girl’s favorite tree is like being struck in the heart—whatever heart Seth Morgan has left after losing his daughter. With his own attempt to buy the old drive-in thwarted, Seth reluctantly steps in to help Kelly, even offering her and her kids shelter in his home, a place that hasn’t seen a woman’s touch—or a child’s joyful laughter—in far too long…
Soon everyone is bound up in the fate of Blue Moon’s drive-in—and the new family taking root in town. Because it looks like the love blooming between Kelly and Seth just may rival any found on the silver screen…
Kelly Jenkins heads to bucolic Blue Moon, Alabama, believing a new life will heal the two orphaned children in her care. Signing on to revive the drive-in theater seems like a worthy venture, until she discovers the property is in deep disrepair. Still, spurred on by the elderly owner’s plea, Kelly takes on the renovation, beginning with an ancient tree that needs to come down—and unexpectedly bringing on the wrath of her reclusive neighbor…
Seeing Kelly take an ax to his little girl’s favorite tree is like being struck in the heart—whatever heart Seth Morgan has left after losing his daughter. With his own attempt to buy the old drive-in thwarted, Seth reluctantly steps in to help Kelly, even offering her and her kids shelter in his home, a place that hasn’t seen a woman’s touch—or a child’s joyful laughter—in far too long…
Soon everyone is bound up in the fate of Blue Moon’s drive-in—and the new family taking root in town. Because it looks like the love blooming between Kelly and Seth just may rival any found on the silver screen…
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 22, 2022
306 people are currently reading
5998 people want to read
About the author
Janet Dailey
395 books1,851 followersJanet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
April 27, 2023
This is a Small town Romance, and this is the 7th book in the New Americana series. I have read a couple of the other books in this series, but I think this book can be read as a standalone without any problems. I fell in love with all the characters in this book, and their stories touched my heart so much. I also loved that there were all age characters in this book, and I think that made me feel this book had a more real feeling. This book kept me wanting to keep reading because of everything going on with the characters. There was some hard hitting stuff, funny times, and some cute times. I really loved reading this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Zebra) or author (Janet Dailey) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
May 29, 2023
This is a beautiful story of love, loss, and starting over. I would highly recommend it to fans of clean romance and fiction centered around families.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
May 4, 2023
This is a typical romance - boy meets girl, both have past baggage that keeps them apart, problems are resolved and they live happily ever after. That said, if you enjoy romance novels, this is one step above because of the characters.
Kelly is a sweet girl who is in over her head after taking custody of her best friends two children but she tries to make a good life for the kids. She moves to a new town to renovate a wreck of a drive in theater. Her new neighbor makes a really bad first impression. He has past baggage because his child died and his wife left and he doesn't want to forgive himself. Kelly and the two kids start to thaw his gruff exterior and he begins to realize that he's missing a lot and needs to be nicer to his new neighbors. Then we have Mae Belle, the owner of the drive in theater who is in a nursing home. She always has a positive attitude and helps keep Kelly from giving up. Mae Belle is my favorite character in the book - she always found the best in people and situations and looked forward to drive in theater being renovated.
If you enjoy a light fluffy romance, this is a perfect book! It's a sweet story with very likeable characters and a happily ever after ending!
Kelly is a sweet girl who is in over her head after taking custody of her best friends two children but she tries to make a good life for the kids. She moves to a new town to renovate a wreck of a drive in theater. Her new neighbor makes a really bad first impression. He has past baggage because his child died and his wife left and he doesn't want to forgive himself. Kelly and the two kids start to thaw his gruff exterior and he begins to realize that he's missing a lot and needs to be nicer to his new neighbors. Then we have Mae Belle, the owner of the drive in theater who is in a nursing home. She always has a positive attitude and helps keep Kelly from giving up. Mae Belle is my favorite character in the book - she always found the best in people and situations and looked forward to drive in theater being renovated.
If you enjoy a light fluffy romance, this is a perfect book! It's a sweet story with very likeable characters and a happily ever after ending!
May 16, 2023
Even though this has typical romance themes, I really liked this book. The setting is fantastic. Who wouldn't like a romance over fixing up an old drive-in movie theater.
The characters really got to my heart. Kelley took in her best friend's children after she died and her husband left. The kids rely give you the sense of how they are feeling from being outspoken to not saying anything around strangers. Kelly and the kids take that chance on Mae Bell's drive in to make it home (boy did it start out a mess).
Seth had lost his daughter and got divorced as a result. He really was a turtle in his shell until Kelly helped him start over. He got his grumpiness out of the way fairly quick.
It was nice to see everyone grow from beginning to end. Plus the old folks were a hoot. This book definitely would make for a fun Hallmark movie, especially the setting.
Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
The characters really got to my heart. Kelley took in her best friend's children after she died and her husband left. The kids rely give you the sense of how they are feeling from being outspoken to not saying anything around strangers. Kelly and the kids take that chance on Mae Bell's drive in to make it home (boy did it start out a mess).
Seth had lost his daughter and got divorced as a result. He really was a turtle in his shell until Kelly helped him start over. He got his grumpiness out of the way fairly quick.
It was nice to see everyone grow from beginning to end. Plus the old folks were a hoot. This book definitely would make for a fun Hallmark movie, especially the setting.
Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
August 25, 2024
My first book by this author was a giveaway book. It was generally an easy, pleasant read. But there was one, for me, huge gapping hole in the story that was so frustrating. It certainly was a tear jerker. Only a 3.5 for me.
July 2, 2023
I would like to express my gratitude to Kensington Books and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC. All the thoughts and opinions shared in this review are solely my own.
This being my first Janet Dailey book, I was unaware that she had passed away in 2013. Initially, I thought this book was a re-issue, but to my surprise, it is not. It appears that her estate has engaged ghostwriters to continue writing in her name while attempting to maintain her distinctive style. I wasn't aware that this was possible, so it came as quite a surprise to me. I have heard of cases where ghostwriters were hired to complete unfinished works by deceased authors, but not to create entirely new ones. If this is a concern for you and you feel it might detract from the authentic Janet Dailey experience, I would recommend sticking to her works published prior to her passing. I wanted to address this point upfront before delving into the rest of my review.
The story revolves around several familiar tropes:
a) a sunshine heroine paired with a grumpy hero
b) the backdrop of a small town
c) the theme of coping with the death of a parent or child
d) a revival of a movie drive-in
Despite these clichés, the book manages to charm readers with its cozy small-town setting. It evokes a similar feeling to that of a Hallmark movie, but with a deeper emotional impact. While the ending may be predictable from a mile away, it is the journey itself that captures your interest. The writing is exceptional, and the plot remains refreshingly uncomplicated. Some may argue that the story feels outdated, reminiscent of books I read back in school, which was around twenty years ago. However, I believe this particular story couldn't be told any other way. It is a tale of loss, hope, and new beginnings, and sometimes, it is precisely this type of narrative that brightens your day. Although everything is resolved a bit too conveniently, I am willing to overlook this aspect due to the superb writing and well-developed characters.
Based on this book, I am genuinely intrigued to explore Janet Dailey's earlier works. Overall, I consider this novel a worthy recipient of four stars.
This being my first Janet Dailey book, I was unaware that she had passed away in 2013. Initially, I thought this book was a re-issue, but to my surprise, it is not. It appears that her estate has engaged ghostwriters to continue writing in her name while attempting to maintain her distinctive style. I wasn't aware that this was possible, so it came as quite a surprise to me. I have heard of cases where ghostwriters were hired to complete unfinished works by deceased authors, but not to create entirely new ones. If this is a concern for you and you feel it might detract from the authentic Janet Dailey experience, I would recommend sticking to her works published prior to her passing. I wanted to address this point upfront before delving into the rest of my review.
The story revolves around several familiar tropes:
a) a sunshine heroine paired with a grumpy hero
b) the backdrop of a small town
c) the theme of coping with the death of a parent or child
d) a revival of a movie drive-in
Despite these clichés, the book manages to charm readers with its cozy small-town setting. It evokes a similar feeling to that of a Hallmark movie, but with a deeper emotional impact. While the ending may be predictable from a mile away, it is the journey itself that captures your interest. The writing is exceptional, and the plot remains refreshingly uncomplicated. Some may argue that the story feels outdated, reminiscent of books I read back in school, which was around twenty years ago. However, I believe this particular story couldn't be told any other way. It is a tale of loss, hope, and new beginnings, and sometimes, it is precisely this type of narrative that brightens your day. Although everything is resolved a bit too conveniently, I am willing to overlook this aspect due to the superb writing and well-developed characters.
Based on this book, I am genuinely intrigued to explore Janet Dailey's earlier works. Overall, I consider this novel a worthy recipient of four stars.
March 5, 2023
I voluntarily read an advanced reader’s copy of this book for an honest opinion.
Blue Moon Haven by Janet Dailey. An enjoyable story and addition to the New Americana series. The story can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed the storyline, the setting and especially the characters.
Blue Moon Haven by Janet Dailey. An enjoyable story and addition to the New Americana series. The story can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed the storyline, the setting and especially the characters.
March 30, 2023
I received an ARC of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Janet Dailey writes the perfect, feel good romance that one needs periodically to lighten the mood. I enjoyed this read, which is part of The New Americana Series, particularly because my first job at age 13 was at a local drive in called the Sky-Vue.
The characters have depth even though this is a happy ending rom-com. The topics of death of a parent leaving young children, elder care, times gone by, the importance of historic preservation and of love lost, but ultimately redeemed, all echo through this work.
I certainly look forward to other installments in The New Americana Series and hope to see Kelly, Seth and company again in the future.
Janet Dailey writes the perfect, feel good romance that one needs periodically to lighten the mood. I enjoyed this read, which is part of The New Americana Series, particularly because my first job at age 13 was at a local drive in called the Sky-Vue.
The characters have depth even though this is a happy ending rom-com. The topics of death of a parent leaving young children, elder care, times gone by, the importance of historic preservation and of love lost, but ultimately redeemed, all echo through this work.
I certainly look forward to other installments in The New Americana Series and hope to see Kelly, Seth and company again in the future.
October 13, 2022
3.5/5. Short and sweet. Kelly is in way over her head. After becoming the guardian of her late best friend's two children, she uproots them all to make a new start in a new town in order to take on the daunting responsibility of reviving and managing the town's run-down drive-through cinema. While battling new parental duties against antagonism from the older child, she is also fighting another front butting heads with the cantankerous neighbour, Seth. All this while trying to achieve the impossible of breathing life back into an old lady's dream.
The romance progressed a bit too quickly, but I enjoyed Kelly's gradual winning over of the kids, who were quite cute and winsome.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
The romance progressed a bit too quickly, but I enjoyed Kelly's gradual winning over of the kids, who were quite cute and winsome.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
May 26, 2023
Short and sweet. A grumpy man, with reason, and a happy, sweet woman taking care of her best friends 2 kids.
You can see the end from the beginning but all the sweet, southern charm makes this a happy romance to read
You can see the end from the beginning but all the sweet, southern charm makes this a happy romance to read
February 21, 2024
A sweet read, perhaps too sweet for my taste. I never fully grasped the personality of any of the characters. 2.5 stars
April 30, 2023
Blue Moon Haven by Janet Dailey was a good, down home,neighbor helping neighbor love story. There were some tight minutes but nothing that couldn't be resolved. The story line flowed along quietly as Kelly and Seth found a working relationship slowly sliding into a romantic relationship. Add in two children that Kelly was responsible for and the story was almost perfect.
Kelly took a job to save the drive-in movie theater in Blue Moon. Her boss was an older woman who was in a nursing home and wanted the drive-in to be all it could be again. Kelly met Seth with an ax in her hand as she tried to chop down a tree. Despite their first attempts at a relationship, one did grow and both saw the other as a great friend that was slowly sliding into more. Meanwhile, there was work to do, money to find and people showing up out of the blue. Kelly and Seth had to keep pushing forward.
The novel was a good read. Blue Moon Haven was a book that you knew when you started it that all would be well. There were problems that found solutions. There were worries that were unfounded. And there was a sweet love. Blue Moon Haven by Janet Dailey was a sweet romance.
Kelly took a job to save the drive-in movie theater in Blue Moon. Her boss was an older woman who was in a nursing home and wanted the drive-in to be all it could be again. Kelly met Seth with an ax in her hand as she tried to chop down a tree. Despite their first attempts at a relationship, one did grow and both saw the other as a great friend that was slowly sliding into more. Meanwhile, there was work to do, money to find and people showing up out of the blue. Kelly and Seth had to keep pushing forward.
The novel was a good read. Blue Moon Haven was a book that you knew when you started it that all would be well. There were problems that found solutions. There were worries that were unfounded. And there was a sweet love. Blue Moon Haven by Janet Dailey was a sweet romance.
March 13, 2023
Blue Moon Haven is the seventh book in the New Americana series. Kelly is in way over her head, attempting too raise her best friends two children after she is name their guardian and their father doesn't want them. Packing up what little bit they have she moves them to a small rural town in Alabama to become the assistant manager at a drive-in. When she arrives there things are not what she expected, and she realizes that she may have bitten off more than she could handle. What follows is a enjoyable read, that shows the love of a mother that isn't actually a mom what lenghts she will go through to provide a home and living for her children. I would recommend this book to others.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Zebra Books, I am leaving my review voluntarily and the opinion expressed here are my own.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Zebra Books, I am leaving my review voluntarily and the opinion expressed here are my own.
February 27, 2023
Thirty-four-year-old Kelly heads to Blue Moon Haven, Alabama, with seventy-one dollars in her pocket and two abandoned siblings.
Ten-year-old Todd Campbell, and six-year-old Daisy, children of her best friend Laice who passed away a year ago. Three months after her passing, their father dropped them off at Kelly’s doorstep and took off.
Kelly was living in Birmingham and things weren’t working out so she took this job.
Two weeks ago she emailed Mae Bell Larkin, owner of the Blue Moon Haven Drive-In, and accepted an assistant manager position.
When the job offer came with a home, she did not expect that the Drive-in would be run-down and neglected.
Fortunately, the trailer where she’d be living is in perfect condition 🏠
Beautifully written book set in a rural town and full of warm characters.
Thank you to Janet Dailey, NetGalley, and Kensington Books– Zebra for the arc of this book.
Ten-year-old Todd Campbell, and six-year-old Daisy, children of her best friend Laice who passed away a year ago. Three months after her passing, their father dropped them off at Kelly’s doorstep and took off.
Kelly was living in Birmingham and things weren’t working out so she took this job.
Two weeks ago she emailed Mae Bell Larkin, owner of the Blue Moon Haven Drive-In, and accepted an assistant manager position.
When the job offer came with a home, she did not expect that the Drive-in would be run-down and neglected.
Fortunately, the trailer where she’d be living is in perfect condition 🏠
Beautifully written book set in a rural town and full of warm characters.
Thank you to Janet Dailey, NetGalley, and Kensington Books– Zebra for the arc of this book.
January 26, 2026
Small town clean romance; love, loss and moving on. Fun character development.
May 9, 2023
Thank you Kensington Publishing for the ARC of Blue Moon Haven. I first read Janet Dailey in junior high several decades ago. I know she passed away about ten years ago, so I was wondering if I’d still like “her” books. I’m pleased to say the ghostwriter does a great job of writing a heartwarming story about a family dealing with and resolving issues. This easy read is a sweet romance, and although it’s book 7 in a series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone.
#NewAmericanaSeries
#KensingtonBooks
#NewAmericanaSeries
#KensingtonBooks
February 21, 2023
I would give this book a 3.5☆. It wasn't very riveting and was pretty predictable but was a sweet story. I think I would have liked to see more tension between Seth and Kelly, it felt like it was pretty easy that they got together but overall I think the story made sense how it ended. I just wish it had more action and less predictability but it was a sweet and fast read.
June 5, 2023
BLUE MOON HAVEN
I couldn't put this book down from start to finish. It was one of "the happily ever after" books that moved me tears in parts, but I loved the ending. A great book!
I couldn't put this book down from start to finish. It was one of "the happily ever after" books that moved me tears in parts, but I loved the ending. A great book!
December 8, 2022
After her best friend passes from cancer, Kelly Jenkins takes responsibility for her two children after their father can’t. She’s looking for somewhere they can bond and heal themselves when she accepts a job renovating a small-town dilapidated drive-in theater. Her new neighbor Seth is dealing with his own losses and resents her intrusion into his life. But with the help of some older townspeople, Kelly and Seth end up working together. But is that enough to heal their hearts?
A sweet, short story that will warm your heart. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A sweet, short story that will warm your heart. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2023
Thank you to Kensington press for an ARC of this book. I enjoyed the story - it brought tears to my eyes in places. The setting was somewhere I would like to visit (and defiantly see a movie at the drive in).
It wasn’t deep. The characters were likeable. The romance was sweet. Everything was tied up with a nice bow in the end. And sometimes, that is exactly the kind of book you need.
It wasn’t deep. The characters were likeable. The romance was sweet. Everything was tied up with a nice bow in the end. And sometimes, that is exactly the kind of book you need.
December 3, 2022
Janet Dailey takes us to Blue Moon, Alabama where Kelly and her best friend's children left in her care after her death have settled. Kelly takes a chance on reviving the old drive in. What she did not count on was her neighbor Seth who is still mourning the death of his daughter and has been wanting the land the drive in sits on to add to his property. What started out as hostility and wariness between Kelly and Seth slowly turns around as Seth offers to help Kelly and the children renovate the drive in. As they become part of the community, setbacks and the resurface of a familiar face threatens to burst their bubble they spent so long in creating for the children. Will they be able to get the drive in set up and be able to make a profit? Will Seth and Kelly get past their own insecurities and their past so they can move forward with each other?
Janet Dailey brings us a story about family and love. She shows us how much a parent will endure and take on so that the children in her care feel safe and cared for all the while trying to figure out where she belongs in the new life she has created for them. Throw in some romance and light hearted humor and this is a story that you will enjoy and want to see what happens next for our little family.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books Zebra for this privilege.
Janet Dailey brings us a story about family and love. She shows us how much a parent will endure and take on so that the children in her care feel safe and cared for all the while trying to figure out where she belongs in the new life she has created for them. Throw in some romance and light hearted humor and this is a story that you will enjoy and want to see what happens next for our little family.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books Zebra for this privilege.
October 25, 2022
Kelly Jenkins is one tough cookie! Not only is she raising the kids of her best friend that passed away, but she also answers an online add for a better job - site unseen. Obstacles galore stand in her way but she has determination and spunk. Some of those obstacles will bring her to her knees but she never gives up. This has grit, heartbreak and hope all wrapped up in one fabulous story. I am never disappointed with a book by Janet Dailey. 5 Stars!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
November 20, 2022
Kelly Jenkins moves to Blue Moon, Alabama to start a new life as she became guardian for her friends children. She has taken a job to restore the old drive-in but is dismayed to discover the condition it is in. The elderly owner pleads with here to stay. Her run in with her neighbor Seth go well. Kelly is wondering if it possible to overcome the obstacles and build a new life for herself and the children.
Thanks to Janet Daily and Kensington Books
Thanks to Janet Daily and Kensington Books
May 13, 2023
Having been a fan of Janet Dailey's books in the past, I thought this book would be an interesting change from my normal mystery genre. I found it difficult to enjoy the book as it seemed a repeat of others I have read in the past. Some books grab your interest and others don't. Sadly, this book did not.
April 18, 2023
Blue Moon Haven by Janet Dailey is both a romance, and a lesson in nostalgia. Kelly was homeless and so were the two children she cared for, Todd and Daisy. They had come to Blue Moon Haven after she’d been hired to be the assistant manager at the drive-in movie there. Now she was standing in a field of weeds with two damaged screens at the end. There was a trailer on the premises but it looked a little the worse for the wear. She needed to see Mae Bell Larkin, the owner and her boss so they took off to the address she’d been given, which turned out to be an old-folks home. Mae Bell was a lovely older woman who immediately engaged Todd with her LPs, something he’d never seen before. She explained she had a budget and she could afford to renovate the drive-in, with Kelly’s help. She told her to go back to the trailer, which was better on the inside than on the outside and look for a trunk which was filled with tapes of old movies. Kelly was to watch them in order. She went all over town looking for a VCR, but mostly she got laughed at. Putting that aside, she started renovating the next morning by taking a saw to the branches that were hanging in front of the screen. That brought a response in the form of a black and white dog and it’s owner, Seth Morgan, a very hot (in both senses of the word) man who had chased Daisy back to the lot.
Seth Morgan had lost his daughter, and his wife had left him. He was in pain and had been for years. He had shut himself off from the world, working with his bees and his pecan trees, seeing no one except his sister, Tully, and generally being miserable. Daisy was so much like Rachel, the daughter he’d lost that he softened. When Tully guilted him into bringing his three neighbors over to ride out the storm and Kelly discovered he had a VCR, the game was on. As he spent time with them and watched some of Mae Bell’s movies, he began to soften. Then he got dragged into the remodel, full bore. He was a terrific character, as damaged people tend to be. Kelly had a big heart. She had taken these children when their mother died and had done her best. She had no idea where their father was. Todd was a boy genius and a handful but she loved him. The project was a big one but they got it done and so many people were interested. It was a fun story, especially for those of us who remember drive-in movies.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Blue Moon Haven by Kensington Books through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonBooks #JanetDailey #BlueMoonHaven
Seth Morgan had lost his daughter, and his wife had left him. He was in pain and had been for years. He had shut himself off from the world, working with his bees and his pecan trees, seeing no one except his sister, Tully, and generally being miserable. Daisy was so much like Rachel, the daughter he’d lost that he softened. When Tully guilted him into bringing his three neighbors over to ride out the storm and Kelly discovered he had a VCR, the game was on. As he spent time with them and watched some of Mae Bell’s movies, he began to soften. Then he got dragged into the remodel, full bore. He was a terrific character, as damaged people tend to be. Kelly had a big heart. She had taken these children when their mother died and had done her best. She had no idea where their father was. Todd was a boy genius and a handful but she loved him. The project was a big one but they got it done and so many people were interested. It was a fun story, especially for those of us who remember drive-in movies.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Blue Moon Haven by Kensington Books through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonBooks #JanetDailey #BlueMoonHaven
April 17, 2023
This book evoked both tears and smiles. It is not only about a romance, but also the formation of a family and the coming together of a community for a common cause. Seth and Kelly have suffered great personal losses in their lives that have left them heart sore and wary of new relationships. Seth lost his daughter and the his wife, so these days he stays pretty much to himself. He spends his day tending his pecan orchard, looking after his beehives and bottling honey. His constant and only companion is his dog Patch. Imagine his shock to find his peace disturbed by someone trying to cut down a tree bordered his orchard and the abandoned drive-in theatre on the neighbouring property. His meeting with Kelly and the two young kids in her care is fraught with anger and tension. He has no way of knowing then, how important these three would become in his life.
Kelly is the guardian of two young kids, Todd and Daisy, who lost their mother to cancer. Their father left them with Kelly when he was unable to to handle caring for them while in his own grief. Wanting to give the kids some stability, she accepted a job as assistant manager of the Blue Moon Haven Drive-In. The job comes with living accommodations.. Frustration, disappointment and shock overwhelm Kelly when she sees the terrible condition of the drive-in and that a trailer is the only living accommodation available. After meeting her new boss and the owner of the drive-in, Mae Bell, Kelly is determined to do the repairs and maintenance necessary to get the drive-in up and operating again. Meeting the neighbour next door is an unexpected and unpleasant experience. A couple of days later, she is surprised to have her neighbour at the door of the trailer, offering his home as refuge as a storm moves through.
From then on, the story takes a wonderful, heartwarming turn. Daily encounters lead to a friendship and eventually so much more. Seth begins to help Kelly and the kids with the mission of getting the drive-in ready to open again. In the interim, Seth and Kelly share secrets and sorrows, and build a bond between them. The children flourish under the care and attention of both Seth and Kelly. As hearts heal they also intertwine and expand.
I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a heartwarming story. I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Kelly is the guardian of two young kids, Todd and Daisy, who lost their mother to cancer. Their father left them with Kelly when he was unable to to handle caring for them while in his own grief. Wanting to give the kids some stability, she accepted a job as assistant manager of the Blue Moon Haven Drive-In. The job comes with living accommodations.. Frustration, disappointment and shock overwhelm Kelly when she sees the terrible condition of the drive-in and that a trailer is the only living accommodation available. After meeting her new boss and the owner of the drive-in, Mae Bell, Kelly is determined to do the repairs and maintenance necessary to get the drive-in up and operating again. Meeting the neighbour next door is an unexpected and unpleasant experience. A couple of days later, she is surprised to have her neighbour at the door of the trailer, offering his home as refuge as a storm moves through.
From then on, the story takes a wonderful, heartwarming turn. Daily encounters lead to a friendship and eventually so much more. Seth begins to help Kelly and the kids with the mission of getting the drive-in ready to open again. In the interim, Seth and Kelly share secrets and sorrows, and build a bond between them. The children flourish under the care and attention of both Seth and Kelly. As hearts heal they also intertwine and expand.
I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a heartwarming story. I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
January 20, 2025
Alabama, Blue Moon
Kelly is put in charge of her best friends children when she dies. The dad just drops them off. She try’s to find a place to better their life and finds an ad for Blue Moon Haven Drive in. She moves them all there. When she arrives the place is run down, not been used for 10 yrs the place where she’s to live looks like a tin can. She is disappointed and Todd is gripping about how bad it is.
Kelly goes to the lady who hired her Mae Bell…she is in a restaurant home! Just gets better. But she tells Kelly to do the repairs get it up and running she gave her the money to do so. So she’s going to make the best of it.
The drive in is covered in tall grass and bushes a tree that’s in the way of the screen so to relieve some stress she takes an ax to it.
The neighbor Seth hears something and goes to see what, he finds her wa king on his dead daughter’s favorite tree. He grabs the ax and yells at her…they are off to a bad start. The next day he apologizes they talk about what she wants to do, all is good. That night a bad storm comes in and it is booming in the trailer they are all scared. He goes and asked them if they’d like to come stay with him to ride out the storm. So they do.
Seth starts to help her with the reno they start with the tracker and bushwhacked on it to clear the land. They cleaning all the buildings out. The kids help when they come home from school, Seth working with Todd is helping with Todd’s attitude. The sister that won’t talk is warming up to Seth, he’s very kind and gentle with her. They spend time over at Seth’s house Kelly makes dinner and they all watch the movies after. Seth was a grumpy man because his died. But this family is making him want to be a family.
They work real hard on the drive in paint test the equipment they are getting ready for the grand opening. The kids dad shows up wants to take the kids, Kelly is heart broken. Seth clams everyone down. But the next day he takes them. On opening night the dad calls Seth and asks him to come get the kids they want to stay with them. That makes Kelly’s night. Kelly is ready to take a chance with Seth now.
Kelly is put in charge of her best friends children when she dies. The dad just drops them off. She try’s to find a place to better their life and finds an ad for Blue Moon Haven Drive in. She moves them all there. When she arrives the place is run down, not been used for 10 yrs the place where she’s to live looks like a tin can. She is disappointed and Todd is gripping about how bad it is.
Kelly goes to the lady who hired her Mae Bell…she is in a restaurant home! Just gets better. But she tells Kelly to do the repairs get it up and running she gave her the money to do so. So she’s going to make the best of it.
The drive in is covered in tall grass and bushes a tree that’s in the way of the screen so to relieve some stress she takes an ax to it.
The neighbor Seth hears something and goes to see what, he finds her wa king on his dead daughter’s favorite tree. He grabs the ax and yells at her…they are off to a bad start. The next day he apologizes they talk about what she wants to do, all is good. That night a bad storm comes in and it is booming in the trailer they are all scared. He goes and asked them if they’d like to come stay with him to ride out the storm. So they do.
Seth starts to help her with the reno they start with the tracker and bushwhacked on it to clear the land. They cleaning all the buildings out. The kids help when they come home from school, Seth working with Todd is helping with Todd’s attitude. The sister that won’t talk is warming up to Seth, he’s very kind and gentle with her. They spend time over at Seth’s house Kelly makes dinner and they all watch the movies after. Seth was a grumpy man because his died. But this family is making him want to be a family.
They work real hard on the drive in paint test the equipment they are getting ready for the grand opening. The kids dad shows up wants to take the kids, Kelly is heart broken. Seth clams everyone down. But the next day he takes them. On opening night the dad calls Seth and asks him to come get the kids they want to stay with them. That makes Kelly’s night. Kelly is ready to take a chance with Seth now.
April 12, 2023
Blue Moon Haven is a newly published book by the late author Janet Dailey. It is part of the Americana series. Kelly Jenkins, although never having much in life, has taken on the care of her late best friend Laice’s children, Todd and Daisy when they were left with her by their father Zach.
Seeking a better life for the kids and herself, Kelly has moved the children from Birmingham to the small town of Blue Moon, Alabama. When Kelly first meets with her new boss, octogenarian Mae Bell Larkin in the Silver Stay Nursing Home, she is ready to turn tail and head back to Birmingham. But as they talk, Kelly becomes energized with Mae Bell’s enthusiasm and heads with the kids to the ancient Blue Moon Haven Drive-In and the Spartan Royal Mansion, a 1951 travel trailer that has been restored and revamped to make a wonderful home for the trio.
As Kelly and the kids settle in and begin the restoration of the drive-in theater, there is a particularly large pecan tree obscuring a screen. When Kelly attempts to take an axe to the tree she is accosted by the owner of the neighboring property, Seth Morgan.
At this point, this special tree, Rachel’s tree, is all he has left of his late daughter and ex wife and the life he had lived before tragedy struck. Although rather a recluse, Seth has maintained a successful pecan farm and is close to his sister, Tully Morris. With Tully’s prompting, after a very bad first impression Seth makes kind overtures in the face of a serious impending spring storm to shelter Kelly, Todd, and Daisy.
This is the beginning of a tenuous relationship that leads Seth to help with both the restoration and success of Blue Moon Haven and the restoration of his own faltering life. It is also a new beginning with propensity for a very rosy future for Kelly, Todd, and Daisy. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
Seeking a better life for the kids and herself, Kelly has moved the children from Birmingham to the small town of Blue Moon, Alabama. When Kelly first meets with her new boss, octogenarian Mae Bell Larkin in the Silver Stay Nursing Home, she is ready to turn tail and head back to Birmingham. But as they talk, Kelly becomes energized with Mae Bell’s enthusiasm and heads with the kids to the ancient Blue Moon Haven Drive-In and the Spartan Royal Mansion, a 1951 travel trailer that has been restored and revamped to make a wonderful home for the trio.
As Kelly and the kids settle in and begin the restoration of the drive-in theater, there is a particularly large pecan tree obscuring a screen. When Kelly attempts to take an axe to the tree she is accosted by the owner of the neighboring property, Seth Morgan.
At this point, this special tree, Rachel’s tree, is all he has left of his late daughter and ex wife and the life he had lived before tragedy struck. Although rather a recluse, Seth has maintained a successful pecan farm and is close to his sister, Tully Morris. With Tully’s prompting, after a very bad first impression Seth makes kind overtures in the face of a serious impending spring storm to shelter Kelly, Todd, and Daisy.
This is the beginning of a tenuous relationship that leads Seth to help with both the restoration and success of Blue Moon Haven and the restoration of his own faltering life. It is also a new beginning with propensity for a very rosy future for Kelly, Todd, and Daisy. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
April 18, 2023
A book that touches on grief in it's many forms, grief of losing a loved one to death and to neglect. The loss of our independence, old or young. Loss of our dreaming. And so many more. The fact thar the author was able to do this without being preachy, nor depressing is a revelation. There is sadness, hope and life in the face of said loss.
The characters are wholesome, complex, well rounded with flaws and the process from beginning to end is a seamless transition that really imitates what we would hope to happen, making this book a truly wonderful HEA book for beyond the TBR piles.
Seth, male protagonist, lost his daughter tragically and since then has turned into a hermit of sorts, incapable of feeling anything really apart from tedium. Of course, this is until he meets Daisy, Todd and Kelly.
Meanwhile Kelly is in over her head. Leaving to find a new place to settle where there can be fresh starts with fresh dreams and hopes, she finds a neglected run down drive in movie Place where she's the new Manager. This is whilst her godchildren whom are under her care after their mother's death, her best friend and their fathers leaving them in Kelly's hands, are more than a little skeptical. The children are ,understandably, traumatised and feel like the ground beneath them is unstable and Kelly, full of optimism, face and real, works hard to reform for them showing warmth and cars in even the hardest toughest moments.
It utterly broke my heart when Zane came to take the kids back, but it all works out un the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book of you hadn't noticed!
The only thing is I wish there was an epilogue. Just an end to tie it all up a little more. But that's all.
4 solid stars!
🌟 🌟🌟🌟
Thankyou netgalley for the chance to read this book.
The characters are wholesome, complex, well rounded with flaws and the process from beginning to end is a seamless transition that really imitates what we would hope to happen, making this book a truly wonderful HEA book for beyond the TBR piles.
Seth, male protagonist, lost his daughter tragically and since then has turned into a hermit of sorts, incapable of feeling anything really apart from tedium. Of course, this is until he meets Daisy, Todd and Kelly.
Meanwhile Kelly is in over her head. Leaving to find a new place to settle where there can be fresh starts with fresh dreams and hopes, she finds a neglected run down drive in movie Place where she's the new Manager. This is whilst her godchildren whom are under her care after their mother's death, her best friend and their fathers leaving them in Kelly's hands, are more than a little skeptical. The children are ,understandably, traumatised and feel like the ground beneath them is unstable and Kelly, full of optimism, face and real, works hard to reform for them showing warmth and cars in even the hardest toughest moments.
It utterly broke my heart when Zane came to take the kids back, but it all works out un the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book of you hadn't noticed!
The only thing is I wish there was an epilogue. Just an end to tie it all up a little more. But that's all.
4 solid stars!
🌟 🌟🌟🌟
Thankyou netgalley for the chance to read this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2025
Blue Moon Haven was such a heartwarming little book.
I went into this not expecting much because this was a book me and three of my friends were reading for our informally official "book club". We decided to read this because one of my friends wanted to and I may have judged the book rather harshly by the summary on the back....
That said, what I saw took me by surprise. I absolutely loved Kelly and I was in check with her with every decision that she made. The kids!! Todd was an absolute JOY to read about. Honestly, it was kind of like he just said everything that I have ever thought and was too scared to say. Daisy was also a dear who just was kinda like 'oh' as she sucked her thumb. And Seth! What to say about him? I went from hating him to liking him to being annoyed by him to loving him.
Honestly, the only thing that keeps this from being a five star is just because whilst I love it and I totally recommend it. It is like a 4.3. What keeps this from being five stars is just the ending. I love the ending and I love happy endings and Janet Dailey did an amazing job keeping things actually kind of realistic (something not enough romance authors do), up until the end. Is it wrong that I am taking away points just because of an ending that I love but have to judge it for? Probably, yes, but still...the point is that it's good so maybe I'm crazy. I don't know. Just READ THIS.
I went into this not expecting much because this was a book me and three of my friends were reading for our informally official "book club". We decided to read this because one of my friends wanted to and I may have judged the book rather harshly by the summary on the back....
That said, what I saw took me by surprise. I absolutely loved Kelly and I was in check with her with every decision that she made. The kids!! Todd was an absolute JOY to read about. Honestly, it was kind of like he just said everything that I have ever thought and was too scared to say. Daisy was also a dear who just was kinda like 'oh' as she sucked her thumb. And Seth! What to say about him? I went from hating him to liking him to being annoyed by him to loving him.
Honestly, the only thing that keeps this from being a five star is just because whilst I love it and I totally recommend it. It is like a 4.3. What keeps this from being five stars is just the ending. I love the ending and I love happy endings and Janet Dailey did an amazing job keeping things actually kind of realistic (something not enough romance authors do), up until the end. Is it wrong that I am taking away points just because of an ending that I love but have to judge it for? Probably, yes, but still...the point is that it's good so maybe I'm crazy. I don't know. Just READ THIS.
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