Minor---but-nagging setbacks continue to sour Grant and Audrey Whitman's initiation into the world of innkeeping, but larger challenges brew when an innocent flirtation leads to big trouble for the Whitmans' son-in-law, Jesse. Jesse Pennington's friendly, outgoing personality has always served him well, especially in a career that has earned him and his wife Corinne a very comfortable lifestyle. But Corinne and Jesse are both restless---and for similar reasons, if only they could share those with each other. Instead, too many business trips and trumped-up charges of harassment from a disgruntled coworker threaten their marriage and possibly put their three precious daughters at risk.
With their life in disarray, God is tugging at their hearts to pursue other dreams. Can Corinne and Jesse pick up the pieces of what was once a wonderful life before it all crumbles beneath them?
Deborah Raney's books have won numerous awards, including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, and the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas-the setting of many of Deborah's novels-for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita, where they enjoy gardening, antiquing, movies, and traveling to visit four children and a growing brood of grandchildren who all live much too far away.
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MY REVIEW:
This is book two of the Chicory Inn series. It definitely stands alone and you won't be confused or lost if you haven't read the first book. However, the first book was excellent, so I recommend you do read it.
In this book, we re-visit Audrey and Grant and their children and grandchildren. This book really focuses on Corinne, their daughter, and her husband Jesse. Jesse is a very successful businessman who is forced to travel a lot. This has made it difficult for Corinne, who is a mom of three young girls. One of her daughters is acting out and she's a bit over-whelmed. Add in that her husband is having to travel with a young, attractive co-worker and it's too much for her.
Jesse is a friendly, likeable guy who doesn't seem to get it when women a flirting with him. The colleague he's been traveling with has taken quite a liking to him. He hasn't exactly discouraged her attentions and before he knows it, the situation becomes very stressful and out of control. Because of this, Jesse finally tells Corinne his long held dream of being a teacher. This shocks Corinne as they live a beautiful home and she's able to be home with her children because of the great paying job her husband has. She has to make some hard decisions.
My only issue with the story was with the co-worker and how it was sort-of resolved and yet it wasn't. I would have liked to have this storyline more complete. I'm hoping she will do so in the third book as I felt like it was an after-thought even though it had been a huge part of the book.
I really, really enjoyed this book. I like this family so much and their great love for one another. They are a very real family, though, in that they have disagreements and issues with one another at times. Their children aren't perfect yet they are all so likeable. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group
You can read more reviews of this book HERE
Blessings - Julie
This is a wonderful series! Great review!
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