Logan Can

*I was given this book in compensation for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Grounded by Angela Correll
koehlerbooks 2013

First Line: Annie couldn’t wait to get home.

Synopsis from Goodreads: New York City flight attendant Annie Taylor is grounded, putting a halt to weekends in Rome and her jet-setting lifestyle. Soon her noncommittal boyfriend’s true nature is revealed, and to top it all off, she loses her apartment.
With nowhere else to go, Annie leaves the city for the family farm in Kentucky, a place she’s avoided for years. She finds a shotgun-wielding grandmother, a farm in disrepair, and a suspicious stranger renting the old stone house.
The country quiet haunts Annie with reminders of a past that can’t be changed. She tries persuading her grandmother to sell the farm, but is met with stubborn refusal? Yet in the midst of her crashing life, Annie sees a glimmer of hope for a second chance.
 Jake Wilder is contemplating jumping off the corporate ladder to follow his passion for sustainable farming. He’s almost ready to propose to Camille, a girl who wants more, not less. Annie believes Jake is about to make a terrible mistake, but does she have the right to tell him?
As the summer heats up, so do Annie’s unexpected feelings for Jake and her interest in the land. When a sudden phone call comes from New York, Annie is forced to choose between coming to terms with her past or leaving it all behind.


My Thoughts: I found this novel extremely refreshing and perfect for Correll’s debut novel. Being a southern girl myself, it was extremely relatable and familiar. At times I felt like I was reading about my family and hometown. I absolutely loved the characters, especially the grandmother. Her strong personality and stubbornness reminds me of my grandmother. She definitely made me laugh. I also really loved that she quoted scripture throughout the book. I loved that this book was extremely clean. It is a nice change compared to many other novels out there. I feel really good about recommending this book to family and friends, since I am often reluctant to do so with other novels because of the language. The story reminds you how special and valuable home is and reminds you of the importance of family and your heritage.

The only negative I would give this book is that it was a little slow through the middle. It had a great beginning and end, but the middle did seem to drag for a bit. Other than that, it kept my attention and I was able to fly through it. It was a very enjoyable book.

If you’re looking for a feel-good read, this is the book for you! It will bring you home to the south and make you smile. I look forward to reading the sequel! I gave Grounded 5 stars.

This book will be available October 1st! Be sure to grab your copy!

Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan
Sourcebooks, Inc., 2013

First Line: Issy Randall refolded the piece of paper and smiled.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Having grown up in an apartment above her Grandpa Joe’s little bakery, Issy Randal has always known how to make something sweet. She’s much better at baking than she is at filing, so when she’s laid off from her desk job, Issy decides to open up her own little caf . But she soon learns that her piece-of-cake plan will take all her courage and confectionary talent to avert disaster. Funny and sharp, Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe is about how life might not always taste like what you expect, but there’s always room for dessert!

My Thoughts: I absolutely adored this novel. Not only does it have a great unpredictable story, it is also filled with amazing recipes. I love to bake so that was a huge bonus for me. I’ll be honest, I had never heard of Jenny Colgan, but as I was browsing the shelves and BAM, I spotted this novel and was immediately captivated by the title and the cover. I had to buy it!

I couldn’t put it down from the beginning. I couldn’t wait to see how things turned out for Issy after she was fired from her real estate job in London. I admire a woman who follows her heart and does something she truly loves. This was the perfect cuddle up by a fire kind of read. I highly recommend this book. I gave it 5 stars.